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The X-Files
S1.E5
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IMDbPro

The Jersey Devil

  • Episode aired Oct 8, 1993
  • TV-14
  • 44m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
7.7K
YOUR RATING
The Jersey Devil (1993)
AdventureCrimeDramaMysterySci-FiThriller

Mulder and Scully track a legendary creature that has roamed the New Jersey countryside for over 40 years.Mulder and Scully track a legendary creature that has roamed the New Jersey countryside for over 40 years.Mulder and Scully track a legendary creature that has roamed the New Jersey countryside for over 40 years.

  • Director
    • Joe Napolitano
  • Writer
    • Chris Carter
  • Stars
    • David Duchovny
    • Gillian Anderson
    • Claire Stansfield
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    7.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joe Napolitano
    • Writer
      • Chris Carter
    • Stars
      • David Duchovny
      • Gillian Anderson
      • Claire Stansfield
    • 26User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos44

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    Top cast20

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    David Duchovny
    David Duchovny
    • Fox Mulder
    Gillian Anderson
    Gillian Anderson
    • Dana Scully
    Claire Stansfield
    Claire Stansfield
    • The Jersey Devil
    Wayne Tippit
    Wayne Tippit
    • Detective Thompson
    Gregory Sierra
    Gregory Sierra
    • Dr. Diamond
    Michael MacRae
    Michael MacRae
    • Ranger Peter Brullet
    Jill Teed
    Jill Teed
    • Glenna
    Tamsin Kelsey
    Tamsin Kelsey
    • Ellenn
    Andrew Airlie
    Andrew Airlie
    • Rob
    Bill Dow
    Bill Dow
    • Dad
    Hrothgar Mathews
    Hrothgar Mathews
    • Jack
    Jayme Knox
    Jayme Knox
    • Mom
    Scott Swanson
    Scott Swanson
    • First Officer
    Sean O'Byrne
    Sean O'Byrne
    • Second Officer
    David James Lewis
    David James Lewis
    • Young Officer
    • (as David Lewis)
    D. Neil Mark
    D. Neil Mark
    • S.W.A.T. Team Officer
    Jason Gray-Stanford
    Jason Gray-Stanford
    • 1947 Police Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Rhys Huber
    Rhys Huber
    • Trent - Scully's Godson
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Joe Napolitano
    • Writer
      • Chris Carter
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews26

    6.97.7K
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    Featured reviews

    7thebigeasy555

    Jersey Devil-Myth or Truth?

    A body is discovered in New Jersey and a missing limb is apparent.Upon hearing this Mulder digs deep into the x-files archive and discovers a case similar to this and decides to investigate. The local police department display a distinct lack of interest in Mulder's investigation and at one point actually ends up a police cell. Many locals merely dismiss the recent death according to Mulder attributable to the mythical Jersey Devil as rubbish. Mulder is at one part of the investigation forced to go it alone as Scully has a date.A rare glimpse into her private life for the viewer. The Jersey Devil character in this episode resembles a primitive female though many other descriptions of the Jersy Devil in literature differ from this.

    A decent episode with the additional bonus of seeing more of Scully in her private life
    10Sanpaco13

    D-E-V-I-L and Bingo was his name-o

    The Jersey Devil the Limerick:

    She'll tear out your lung if you p*ss her.

    She's a cannibalistic sister.

    One homeless man dead

    Another in a hotel bed.

    Mulder is sure gonna miss her.

    This is the first episode I ever saw of the X-Files when it was first run. I was so terrified that I didn't watch again until much much later. Looking back on this one and Shadows and other season 1 episodes that scared me so much I have to laugh because they aren't quite as scary to me anymore but they are still great. I love season 1 so much because it is so classic. We return to the low budget horror feeling of the show where the entire show relies on story and atmosphere to keep the viewer intrigued and terrified. Good episode. Not to mention young Scully. And the first reference to Mulder's porn addiction. And the original score. I'm feeling nostalgic can you tell? 10 out of 10.
    9MaxBorg89

    "... and look who's holding the door!"

    The Jersey Devil inaugurates another X-Files tradition, namely lighter, more entertaining standalone episodes following the more emotionally relevant mythology stories (Squeeze, which aired right after Deep Throat, doesn't count, on the grounds of it being, well, too creepy). This trend was exploited at best in Seasons 5-7, but this episode shows that the writers already had a clear sense of how to do comedy in the series.

    As suggested by the title, Mulder and Scully travel to New Jersey, where corpses are found with limbs missing. Remembering an old X-file, Mulder says it might be the legendary "Jersey Devil" who's behind the attacks, meeting inevitable derision on the part of local authorities and, to a lesser degree, Scully. As they get closer to the truth (some evolutionary misstep might be involved), the tension increases and the search for the "Devil" gets more and more serious.

    Mulder's beliefs, contrasted with Scully's skepticism, have been there since the pilot episode, but this is the first time their work relationship is played for laughs, with their respective theories clashing in a humorous debate about mankind and evolution (another important theme in the longer run of the show). Naturally, there is also suspense (though not as consistently as in Squeeze) and a traditionally open ending which suggests the story may not be over (which wasn't the case, but still...). Revealingly, though, the epilogue induces a smile rather than a shiver. That's The X-Files in a nutshell: weird, thrilling and funny - often at the same time.
    6Sleepin_Dragon

    Mulder needs his eyes tested.

    She was beautiful... ....sorry she was what!!!!

    This is the first episode from the first series I found a little hit and miss, we have been treated to some great stories and character development up until this point, this one is more of a one off.

    Nice that we get some character development for Scully, we learn a bit more about her, and what she's looking for out of life. We also finally get a Policeman that isn't a jerk.

    The story is a bit wishy washy, but overall it's pretty good, it starts off better than it ends, 6/10.
    9ivo-cobra8

    The hunt for The Jersey Devil - underrated episode flick!

    The Jersey Devil is very underrated Monster-of-the-Week episode that I don't think deserves 7.2 on IMDb. I like this episode a lot and for a lot of reasons. This was the first episode that I have seen the clip about Mulder been on a stakeout for a man-eater who eats homeless people as a child. Of course I switch the channel to other program, because I promised my self I will not watch X-Files cause I don't want get scared. Today been adult I enjoy watching Season 1 and I enjoy this episode a lot.

    Plot: The murder of a homeless man which is very similar in detail to a murder committed in 1947 leads Mulder and Scully to the legendary man-beast the Jersey Devil (Claire Stansfield) roaming in the forests surrounding Atlantic City.

    Again for me Season 1 kicks ass and Mulder is still a hero for me. Here is a case open since 1947 New Jersey when a man was attacked and eaten by other human been. Police officers killed that person but in the present day, that case keeps continuing Mulder and Scully fly to New Jersey investigate the case, when they are unauthorized on this case. Detective Thompson (Wayne Tippit) does not want them on this case so they are dismissed. Scully fly's to Washington D.C. while she attends her godson's birthday party and she meets a handsome man and she goes on a date. Mulder stays in New Jersey and he tracks the creature down, on his own agenda, when he surrounds Atlantic City Forrest. When the local authorities finds out, that a naked man-eater is roaming trough forest and through city eating people they start a hunt for this creature. Mulder wants to catch the creature alive, while Detective Thompson want's it dead. The hunt for The Jersey Devil begins.

    Here is the first time we see Scully on a date and she also dresses beautiful and she is adorable in this episode.

    I like how Scully rejects her date on the end of the episode for helping Mulder on a cases I like that.

    I love how Mulder (David Duchovny) is a real heart in the show. I love how Mulder gives money and a key to his hotel room to a homeless man who helps him on a search for a man-eater creature.

    I love how they hunt and chase a man-beast (Claire Stansfield) when she is running though abandoned building in the Atlantic City.

    "He's a jerk. He's not a jerk. He's, um... he's obsessed with his work."

    I disagree with Scully, Mulder is not a jerk he is a hero and he cared about the truth and he love to help people. In this episode we have Mulder giving a homeless man, his money and keys to his hotel room.

    This is actually a real study case for David Duchovny, who was really on a real stakeout, that is why we see Mulder not shaved and not been sleepy. David Duchovny did not sleep whole night, while he was preparing for his role filming this episode. I know that because I read it somewhere.

    Tough we don't see Claire Stansfield face enough, she did a great job playing her villain character man-beast.

    Joe Napolitano did directed well and Chris Carter did a great job directing this episode.

    I like this episode and I like watching it and I still love Mulder to death. David Duchovny did an outstanding job playing his lead character.

    This episode get's 9 out of 10, I still love Season 1 and the first season kicks ass and it is the best Season for me.

    The first season of the science fiction television series The X-Files commenced airing on the Fox network in the United States on September 10, 1993, and concluded on the same channel on May 13, 1994, after airing all 24 episodes.

    "The Jersey Devil" is the fifth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series The X-Files. It premiered on the Fox network on October 8, 1993. It was written by series creator Chris Carter, directed by Joe Napolitano, and featured guest appearances by Gregory Sierra, Wayne Tippit and Claire Stansfield. Although the episode is the series' second "Monster-of-the-Week" story—after the earlier "Squeeze"—it was the first to have been written by Carter.

    9/10 Grade: A Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Claire Stansfield, Wayne Tippit, Gregory Sierra, Michael MacRae Director: Joe Napolitano Producers: Chris Carter, Joseph Patrick Finn, Glen Morgan, James Wong Screenplay: Chris Carter Rated: R Running Time: 44 minutes

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      It was David Duchovny that suggested to Chris Carter that Claire Stansfield should play The Jersey Devil. Duchovny and Stansfield had met earlier while filming The Bounty Hunter (1992) together.
    • Goofs
      When Mulder and Scully first walk across the office to acquire a car, the cameraman walks into the edge of a desk and the camera noticeably jolts to the left. A second later the offending desk is in shot.
    • Quotes

      Mulder: Don't you have a life, Scully?

      Scully: You keep that up and I'll hurt you like that beast woman.

      Mulder: [as she holds the door open for him] 8 million years out of Africa...

      Scully: ...and look who's holding the door.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Gone Home (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      The X-Files
      (Credited)

      Written by Mark Snow

      Performed by John Beal

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 8, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Hulu
      • Instagram
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Pacific Central Station - 1150 Station Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada(exterior of Atlantic City Police Department)
    • Production companies
      • Ten Thirteen Productions
      • 20th Century Fox Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 44m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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