Die Hand Die Verletzt
"Die Hand Die Verletzt" | |
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The X-Files episode | |
Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 14 |
Directed by | Kim Manners |
Written by | Glen Morgan James Wong |
Production code | 2X14 |
Original air date | January 27, 1995 |
Running time | 45 minutes |
Guest appearances | |
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"Die Hand Die Verletzt" is the fourteenth episode of the
The X-Files series centers on
"Die Hand Die Verletzt" uses the lapsed devil-worshipers as a way to parody insincere followers of mainstream religions. When confronted with proof of their religion's claims the school faculty members are mostly worried about how their obligations could impact their secular lives, several being either scared or annoyed by the prospect of having to become devout. This was the last episode written by Morgan and Wong before they left to create Space: Above and Beyond. They decided to add several in-jokes with The X-Files creative team. The episode has several scenes involving animals, each filmed with living creatures. In one such scene frogs rain from the sky. Actor Dan Butler has been quoted as being terrified of an anaconda used during one scene.
Plot
In the fictional town of Milford Haven,
Later, a group of students go out into the woods at night to play with
While dissecting a pig fetus in science class, Ausbury's stepdaughter, Shannon (
Mulder finds out that Scully never called him. The two find Paddock seemingly attacked by the remaining Satanists, and go to search for them. The Satanists capture the two agents, convinced that they need to perform a sacrifice to regain favor with the Devil and make up for their diluted faith before it is too late. As they are about to kill Mulder and Scully, Paddock causes them to instead kill themselves, confirming that their attempt was indeed too late. The agents escape their bonds and find Paddock missing, with only a parting message on the chalkboard stating, "Goodbye. It's been nice working with you."[1][2]
Production
Writing
"It was a fun script that turned this big corner when the girl had the emotional breakdown. It suddenly became a very creepy, dark, disturbing episode. It was vintage Glen and Jim, and we had a great, great performance by the guest stars. A really good, solid episode that actually veered a little more toward the horror genre. But it worked because of Mulder and Scully."
—Chris Carter, on the tone of the episode.[3]
"Die Hand Die Verletzt", which was written by co-executive producers
Series creator Chris Carter described the episode as "a cautionary tale about playing with fire, playing with things bigger and badder than you might imagine".[6] In an interview, he also praised the purposefully clashing tones of the entry, noting that it begins almost comical, with the PTC saying Satanic prayers and toads raining from the skies. However, as it goes on, it becomes increasingly dark.[6]
Some of the names used in this episode are
Directing and filming
"Die Hand Die Verletzt" was directed by Kim Manners, making it his first contribution to the series. (Manners would go on to be a prolific director, who directed many of the series' episodes). Originally, another director was supposed to helm this episode, but plans fell through and Manners was hired. The producers for the show were initially concerned about bringing Manners on board, as the director subscribed to the philosophy of Stephen J. Cannell, who strongly believed that writers and directors should work together to cast characters, select filming locations, and shoot episodes. According to Morgan, many at the time believe that this school of thought was "a lesser kind" of directing.[11] However, Morgan was a champion for Manners, and thanks to the former's lobbying, the show finally allowed Manners to direct an episode.[11]
The producers initially considered using fake frogs for the scene where they fall from the sky, but the "fake ones looked too bad and didn't hop away after command", according to Carter.[6] As such, real frogs were brought in and dropped on the actors from a short distance, with camera angles being employed to make it look like they were falling from much higher. Shooting the scene in which the snake goes down the stairs proved to be a challenge, as the creature kept falling onto the floor after slithering down the steps.[6] Actor Dan Butler was terrified of the animal, and he was unable to talk while shooting the scene in the basement. However, Butler's ophidiophobia had an up-side: the show's art department did not need to apply fake sweat to his face.[12]
Themes
Emily VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club noted the recurring motif of doors. She highlighted various examples—such as the light emanating behind the door in the beginning of the episode, the door in which Mrs. Paddock hides when she kills people, and the door to Mr. Ausbury's basement in which the Satanic rituals took place—noting that "there's the whole notion of opening a door to another world and letting an ancient evil into our own".[15]
Reception
Ratings
"Die Hand Die Verletzt" premiered on the
Reviews
"Die Hand Die Verletzt" received early praise from critics. Entertainment Weekly gave "Die Hand Die Verletzt" an "A−", noting that, in the episode, "Mulder and Scully largely step aside in this wacky, wicked effort chock-full of stunning imagery and wry comment."[20] The magazine praised Blommaert's acting, calling her "juicily diabolical".[20] Paul Cornell, Martin Day, and Keith Topping, in their book X-Treme Possibilities, gave the episode mostly positive reviews, although they criticized the ending. Day applauded the episode's themes of "loss of faith … ritual abuse [and] repressed memories", along with the "great set pieces", and the plot twists.[21] However, he was slightly critical that the episode did not have a solid conclusion, and that the identity of Mrs. Paddock was never revealed. Cornell was even more critical about the lack of closure, calling it "a vast unanswered question" and "very troubling in a show that's concerned with seeing the truth".[21] However, he too was also complimentary towards the set pieces, calling them "groovy".[21]
Later reviews were also complimentary. Emily VanDerWerff gave the episode an "A" and called it "a good example of the show heading in a different direction but still largely feeling like the same show." She praised the episode for being "fun [and] creepy". VanDerWerff also praised the final scene, noting that "rare that Mulder and Scully completely get played, but they do here, and it makes the episode an even better sick joke." Ultimately, she praised the "sick sense of humor", the "outright left turns into demented darkness", and "the horrifying visuals".[15] Shearman and Pearson awarded the episode five stars out of five, citing the "very good" conceit about organized religion, the humor, and the "great set pieces" as positive factors.[13][14]
Nick De Semlyen and James White of
C. Eugene Emery, Jr. wrote in Skeptical Inquirer that: "In one scene, Mulder expressed amazement on the counterclockwise motion of the water draining from a fountain. He stated that the motion of the water should be clockwise because of the effect of the Coriolis force in the area. The writers presented incorrect scientific data since it was normal for water to drain in such a motion. Was it an honest mistake, or was it a deliberate attempt to spook viewers?"[25]
Footnotes
- ^ a b Lowry (1995), pp. 193–194.
- ^ Lovece (1996), pp. 143–145.
- ^ Edwards (1996), p. 113.
- ^ a b c d Lowry (1995), p. 195.
- ^ Vitaris, Paula (October 1997). "Morgan and Wong Return to The X-Files". Cinefantastique.
- ^ Fox.
- ^ MacBeth (I.1. 8)
- ^ Vitaris, Paula (October 1996). "Episode Guide". Cinefantastique. 28 (3): 18–40.
- ^ Cornell (1998) et al, p. 146
- ^ Rozum (1997), p. 27.
- ^ a b Allair, Matt (October 27, 2011). "Exclusive Interview with Glen Morgan". The X-Files Lexicon. Archived from the original on June 24, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- Fox. 1994–1995.
- ^ a b c Shearman and Pearson (2008), p. 43.
- ^ a b Shearman and Pearson (2008), p. 44.
- ^ a b VanDerWerff, Emily (June 6, 2010). "The X-Files: "Irresistible" / "Die Hand Die Verletzt" / "Fresh Bones". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ Nutter, David; et al. (2000). The X-Files: The Complete Second Season (booklet). Beverly Hills, California: 20th Century Home Entertainment.
- ^ Lowry (1995), p. 249.
- Gannett Company, Inc.February 1, 1995. p. D3.
- ^ Cornell (1998) et al, p. 145
- ^ a b "X Cyclopedia: The Ultimate Episode Guide, Season 2 | EW.com". Entertainment Weekly. November 29, 1996. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
- ^ a b c Cornell (1998) et al, p. 147
- ^ Semlyen, Nick De; White, James (October 2013). "The 20 Greatest X-Files Episodes". Empire. Bauer Media Group. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013.
- ^ Anderson, Kaite (April 2002). "The Ten Scariest Moments". Cinefantastique. 34 (2): 50–51.
- ^ Ogle, Connie (July 28, 2008). "The X-Factor: A Look Back at 'The X-Files' Greatest Monsters". PopMatters. PopMatters Media. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
- ^ Emery, C. Eugene, Jr. (May 1, 1995). "X-Files coriolis error leaves viewers wondering". Skeptical Inquirer
Bibliography
- Cornell, Paul; Day, Martin; Topping, Keith (1998). X-Treme Possibilities. Virgin Publications, Ltd. ISBN 9780753502280.
- Edwards, Ted (1996). X-Files Confidential. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316218085.
- Lovece, Frank (1996). The X-Files Declassified. Citadel Press. ISBN 9780806517452.
- Lowry, Brian (1995). The Truth is Out There: The Official Guide to the X-Files. Harper Prism. ISBN 9780061053306.
- Rozum, John (1997). "Grey Matters". Sky Buster (Graphic Novel). 1. Vol. 34. Topps.
- Shearman, Robert; Pearson, Lars (2009). Wanting to Believe: A Critical Guide to The X-Files, Millennium & The Lone Gunmen. Mad Norwegian Press. ISBN 9780975944691.
External links
- "Die Hand Die Verletzt" on TheXFiles.com
- "Die Hand Die Verletzt" at IMDb