Ep 21. Tooms

In the season 1 episode 21 of The X-Files titled "Tooms," Mulder and Scully investigate a bizarre case where a man they put behind bars six months ago may have the ability to elongate his body to squeeze through tight spaces and commit murders. Eugene Victor Tooms, an employee at a department store, was previously convicted of a murder case involving organ extraction. However, it was difficult to keep him arrested as he had an ability to reshape his body in a way that allowed him to pass through narrow spaces. Once he achieved this, he would consume his victim's liver to allow him to hibernate for years.

As the case reignites, Mulder and Scully must try to gather enough evidence to prove that Tooms is the culprit behind the recent murder. Things start to get strange as Mulder has to overcome his fear of confined spaces while following Tooms through the air vents of the apartment building he lives in. On the other hand, Scully is tasked with acquiring evidence at the crime scene, where she gets to meet a retired detective who worked Tooms' previous case.

Using her scientific background and intuition, Scully becomes convinced that Tooms is the prime suspect of the recent murders. However, she has to deal with her skeptical partner, Mulder, who relies on intuition and trust to conclude an investigation. Mulder is more interested in proving Tooms' supernatural abilities than merely acquiring forensic evidence to help him convict him. Scully backs up her partner for some time, but it's clear she wants a definite conclusion regarding the case.

As the story progresses, Mulder becomes uneasier with each step as the tension builds between him and Tooms during their interactions. The entire episode soon takes on a horror-like ambiance and set-up as Mulder and Scully discover pieces of flesh hidden away within an air duct and fingernail marks on the tiny air vents. As the pair tries to pursue what they have started, their curiosity for obtaining evidence leads to them being trapped in a small space with the vicious killer.

Ultimately, "Tooms" is an excellent episode full of suspense, horror, and action. David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, and Doug Hutchison's acting is top-notch, elevating the already excellent script. The episode will give you chills, and will have you sitting at the edge of your seat. The suspenseful score makes the story even more captivating to watch. At its core, "Tooms" is a perfect episode that showcases how The X-Files effectively handles genres like horror, sci-fi, and mystery.