Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day Should Borrow From This Episode Of The X-Files

Steven Spielberg returns to the director’s chair this month for the first time in five years with Disclosure Day, a pulpy summer blockbuster that centers on alien conspiracies and government cover-ups. The film stars Josh O’Connor and Emily Blunt as two people who uncover the truth regarding UFOs and extra-terrestrial activity on Earth.

If that plot sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day has a story similar to the overarching narrative of The X-Files, the hit 90s TV show that put alien conspiracies and government interference back at the forefront of the public eye.

The X-Files’ narrative had many twists and turns over the years, but generally speaking, it went as follows: a young FBI agent looks for evidence to support his theory that the U.S. government are covering up the presence of alien life on Earth. The X-Files has many amazing episodes related to the central storyline, but one in particular stands out, especially as it relates to Disclosure Day.

The episode is Nisei in season 3 of the show. The story follows an alien autopsy conducted by the government, filmed for scientific purposes, and the tape would be the definitive proof Mulder (David Duchovny) needs in order to prove the existence of alien life. Disclosure Day would be smart to borrow from this episode, which goes down as one of the most underrated alien stories in the show’s history.

The X-Files’ Nisei Episode Is A Great Alien Story

Nisei is one of the classic episodes of The X-Files when it comes to the show’s overarching story. The aliens are at the forefront, and it’s clearly heavily influenced by the Roswell incident of 1946 and its aftermath. The design of the aliens is based on the classic Roswell look, with grey faces and big black eyes.

Audiences see the aliens in the aforementioned autopsy video, which Mulder finds. He’s all in on this story, believing the video to be authentic, whereas his partner, Scully, is much more skeptical. It’s the classic X-Files dynamic that works so well throughout the show, but especially so in this episode.

This episode is also masterful when it comes to suspense. The X-Files, which is set to be rebooted by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler later this year, was always a genre blend show, diving into comedy, drama, horror, and thriller. Niesi embraces many of these elements, but especially the latter, with a high-octane story that is incredibly tense.

The intensity comes in part from the scope of the potential government cover-up regarding the autopsy video. Early on in the episode, Mulder and Scully travel to Pennsylvania to speak with the person who was allegedly distributing the video. However, when they get there, the FBI agents realize that the man has been killed.

Not only does this serve as a twist in the story, but it also reemphasizes the danger that Mulder and Scully are in. The best alien stories all have this kind of danger attached to them, no matter the tone that the story takes. Even the lighthearted ET: The Extra Terrestrial featured government agents hunting the young kids of the film which made the story feel bigger and more intense.

The X-Files Gets The Alien Conspiracy Atmosphere Perfect

Mulder and Scully showing their badges in The X-Files

The X-Files is a show that always thrived on its atmosphere. Even in the later seasons, which are generally considered to be weaker overall, the atmosphere remains a standout element. This was maintained even as the stories dipped, such is the strength of the atmosphere that creator Chris Carter and co. built for the series.

The success of the atmosphere can be seen in full force in this episode. It’s not just the classic X-Files atmosphere — it’s the show’s own unique twist on alien conspiracy stories. The Roswell influence is strong, with an excellent conspiracy atmosphere that the show made so famous. The alien work in The X-Files was up and down overall, in part because of a lackluster conclusion to the main storyline, but this episode remains one of the show’s highs when it comes to aliens.

Disclosure Day Looks Set To Have Some Of These Elements

Disclosure Day looks to have many of these elements. For one, early reactions to Disclosure Day have been strong, with critics praising the return of Steven Spielberg to the director’s chair. One critic wrote: I can’t remember the last time I loved a Spielberg movie as much as #DisclosureDay — thrilling, funny, deeply emotional and impeccably acted (Emily Blunt, in particular, is astounding). Full of mystery and wonder, it proves that nobody does it quite like Spielberg. Just great.”

Interestingly, the same critic compared Disclosure Day to The X-Files, noting that David Koepp’s script is “X-FILES-meets-The Bible [with] one big high-wire act.” They also described the film as invigorating and refreshing, in part due to the unpredictable nature of the story. Overall, these are all elements that made The X-Files such a successful series, and given that Disclosure Day is playing with the same sort of ideas and themes, this can only be seen as a good sign.

Disclosure Day also appears to have some more X-Files-esque elements as well. The latest and final trailer for the new Spielberg film gave audiences a first glimpse at the aliens of the film, which are designed almost identically to the ones seen in the Niesi episodes of The X-Files. The aesthetics are based heavily off of the art people made surrounding the Roswell incident following those events, and although this design has sometimes been used in a comedic way in recent years, Disclosure Day looks like it’s set to add more seriousness to the look.

The alien atmosphere, and the general atmosphere more broadly, also appear to be very similar to The X-Files, and Niesi in particular. Disclosure Day’s trailers highlight plenty of shadows, bright lights, and heightened imagery, all of which helped convey the mysterious story. These are all elements that were included in the very best episodes of The X-Files, such as Niesi.

Ultimately, audiences will be able to discover the extent of the similarities between The X-Files and Disclosure Day when the film releases in theaters later this month. Steven Spielberg has already cemented himself as a major player in the world of alien-centered stories in film, and he looks set to add to that legacy with Disclosure Day.