A revised version of the 2008 film "The X-Files: I Want to Believe," titled "Vrach Frankenshteyn," is now available on Hulu. This cut, re-edited by franchise creator Chris Carter, aims to enhance the horror aspects of the original movie by trimming its runtime to 98 minutes and removing elements deemed too intense for a PG-13 rating.
The original film, released six years after the TV series concluded and a decade after the first movie, "The X-Files: Fight the Future," was met with a lukewarm reception. Carter's initial re-edit for the DVD release has now been further refined for this streaming version.
The narrative centers on former FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). Scully, now a medical doctor, is approached by FBI agent Mosley Drummy (Alvin Joiner, also known as rapper Xzibit) to help locate Mulder, who is in hiding from his former employers. The FBI offers to drop charges against Mulder if he assists in a case involving a psychic individual, Father Joe (Billy Connolly), who is helping the agency find a missing agent. This situation brings Mulder and Scully back together, though the "Vrach Frankenshteyn" cut reportedly excises much of their romantic subplot.
Father Joe, a former priest and convicted pedophile, claims to have psychic abilities, which only Mulder believes. The film also explores a subplot involving Scully's medical work at a Catholic hospital, where administrators question her proposed experimental treatment for a young patient, raising themes of faith versus science and divine will.
Comparisons have been drawn to Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" and Maggie Gyllenhaal's "The Bride!" due to the Frankensteinian title, and to the "X-Files" Emmy-winning episode "The Post-Modern Prometheus." Billy Connolly is highlighted for his performance as the supporting character Father Joe.
This revised cut functions more as a standalone "monster of the week" thriller, focusing on the dynamic between the skeptical Scully and the believing Mulder. The film's technical aspects, including cinematography and editing, are noted for creating a moody atmosphere and maintaining a brisk pace. The "Vrach Frankenshteyn" version adds some moderate-to-soft-R-rated violent content, but the narrative still grapples with some of the original film's perceived messiness, particularly in its third act.
While "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" was considered a mediocre film, the "Vrach Frankenshteyn" cut is seen as a slight improvement, making it a curiosity for dedicated "X-Files" fans.