Director Ryan Coogler recently revealed that his next project is going to be a reboot of the hit 90s sci-fi series,The X-Files, which means there’s now an opportunity for the show to focus a lot less on alien conspiracies and much more on the often overlooked horror elements the first seasons of the original contained. Some of the best episodes of the show focused on a “monster-of-the-week” format in between the big narrative-pushing installments.
With his new filmSinnersin theaters everywhere – and doing well by the way – Coogler stated in an interview on theLast Podcast on the Leftshow, thatThe X-Filesis the next project he’s going to tackle,going on to mention that he’s hopeful that actress Gillian Anderson might be game to return.
“I’ve been excited about that for a long time, and I’m fired up to get back to it. Some of those episodes, if we do our jobs correctly, will be really f***ing scary,” Coogler said during the podcast. With his pedigree in the horror genre, if there’s anyone who can breathe new spooky vibes intoThe X-Files, it’s Ryan Coogler.
Coogler’s Filmmaking Style Puts Atmosphere, Psychological Tension As Top Priorities
When it comes to crafting stories that raise the hair on the back of the necks of viewers, a priority must be placed on atmosphere. Agood director, writer, or storytellertravels down the road to reaching their goal by creating a setting that breeds an uneasy feeling in the hearts and minds of those watching.
Coogler has a knack for using lighting, sound, and pacing as tools to create a sense of dread. TheCreeddirector likes to make use of long takes, intense close-ups, and an emotionally charged environment to kick things up a notch from creepy to utterly terrifying.
This style lends itself to true existential horror that will leave fans unsettled long after they turn off the television. Take the vibes from the filmHereditaryand apply them to a government conspiracy/cover-up. Is there anything more frightening than the people who are in charge of our country being involved in forces and powers that go beyond the realm of the natural?
A New Take On X-Files Can Tackle Real-Life Modern Horrors
TheoriginalX-Filesseriespulled inspiration for its mythos right out of the pages of actual history, such as paranoia from the Cold War era, the whole UFO abduction craze in the 1990s, and even the Y2K hysteria. Modern society has a whole batch of brand-new horrors to choose from when bringing that Coogler can take advantage of.
TheBlack Pantherdirector could easily craft a spooky narrative about artificial intelligence apps that have become all the rage these days. Something that was once viewed as the potential doom of the human race is now being utilized by the masses and is something anyone can get a hold of. In fact, almost everyone has A.I. in their pockets.
How about the power of disinformation being used by someone with nefarious intent? Groupthink, mind control, mass acts of violence, all created by cooking up false narratives designed to push folks beyond the breaking point. People are capable of great and highly disturbing acts of violence when they are under the influence of fear and propaganda.
Keep in mind that not every monster inX-Fileswas an alien ortwisted other-worldly creature. Some of the most hideous events against humanity have been carried out by regular, normal people. The person living next door might not be as friendly as they appear to be.
Coogler Could ReturnX-Filesto the Successful Monster of the Week Format
As noted earlier, some of the best episodes of theX-Fileswere the “monster-of-the-week” ones that didn’t push the overal “conspiracy” narrative forward by much, if at all. Unfortunately, as the original series progressed, these episodes lost their horror edge and became more based in comedy or were nothing more than a crime procedural but with a strange creature.
A Ryan Coogler rebootcould restore this old format, making one-off episodes that feel more like an A24 short film. Imagine getting a body horror episode that is set inside a biotech lab? Demons that have taken refuge in the digital realm of the “cloud?” Or even exploring the terrifying reality beneath some of our folklore? This would be restoringX-Filesto its former glory, before the alien mythos completely overtook the narrative in the series' later seasons.
Coogler has a golden opportunity to do something fresh withX-Filesand yet still make it recognizable enough that fans of the original will enjoy it. Making a return to the “monster-of-the-week” format with the unsettling tension and atmosphere creation he’s known for,theSinnersdirector could breathe new lifeinto a franchise that has become so tangled in its own mythology that it’s no longer sure of its identity.
