"Home" the most grewsome, horrific episode of The X-Files show ever!

17 March 2023
There's a reason the Fox Network did not re-run 'Home' after its initial broadcast...

"The X-Files" episode "Home" is often cited as one of the most disturbing and horrific episodes of the series. It was the fourth episode of the fourth season and aired on October 11, 1996. The episode was written by Glen Morgan and James Wong and directed by Kim Manners.

It is considered one of the 'great' X-Files episodes rivaling the classic Humbug.

The plot of "Home" centers around a small, isolated community in Pennsylvania where the Peacock family, a group of inbred and deformed individuals, has been living for generations. The episode opens with a graphic scene of a deformed baby being buried alive by an unseen figure, setting the tone for the horror to come.

Mulder and Scully are sent to investigate the murder of a newborn baby found buried in a field in Home, Pennsylvania. When they arrive, they discover that the Peacock family is responsible for the baby's death and has been committing similar atrocities for years. The Peacock family, led by the patriarch, Edmund, has been keeping their deformed and mutated children hidden away in their home, and they will do anything to protect their twisted way of life.

The episode features scenes of intense violence and gore, including a graphic scene of a decapitated body being dragged by a car and the disturbing reveal of the Peacock family's inbred and deformed children. 

home xfiles epsiode

Despite its controversial subject matter, "Home" was well-received by both critics and audiences. The episode was praised for its direction, writing, and performances, particularly from guest stars Tucker Smallwood and Karin Konoval.

The episode's writer, Glen Morgan, has stated that the inspiration for "Home" came from real-life incidents of infanticide and incest in small, rural communities. The episode was also notable for its use of the Johnny Mathis song "Wonderful! Wonderful!" which played over the gruesome final scene.

'Home' was so controversial and unsettling that it was banned from re-airing on Fox after its initial broadcast


The episode "Home" was highly controversial and unsettling due to its disturbing content, which included scenes of incest and infanticide. The network received a flood of complaints from viewers who found the episode disturbing and inappropriate for television. As a result, the episode was banned from re-airing on Fox after its initial broadcast.

Despite the ban, "Home" remains one of the most memorable and highly regarded episodes of The X-Files. It was praised for its strong performances, especially from the guest stars who portrayed the Peacock family. 

The ban on "Home" was eventually lifted in 1999 when the series was released on DVD. It was included in the fourth season box set, but with a disclaimer warning viewers about the episode's disturbing content.

Home Again: The Sequel Episode

Airing as the fourth episode of the tenth season "Home Again" follows Agent Mulder and Scully as they investigate a series of brutal murders committed by a mysterious figure known as "The Band-Aid Nose Man." As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover a link to a controversial government program aimed at eliminating homeless people from the streets.

The episode was written by Glen Morgan, who also wrote the original "Home" episode, and directed by Glen Morgan himself. Like its predecessor, "Home Again" deals with themes of family, death, and loss, as well as the dark underbelly of society.

One of the major differences between the two episodes is their tone. While "Home" was notorious for its shock value and extreme violence, "Home Again" takes a more contemplative approach, focusing on the emotional journey of its characters. It also explores the idea of "home" in a different way, examining the idea of what it means to belong somewhere, even when that place may be dangerous or uncertain.

The episode remains an interesting continuation of the themes and ideas explored in "Home," and offers a satisfying conclusion to some of the questions left unanswered in the original episode.

Here are some trivia points about the X-Files episode "Home

  • The episode was written by Glen Morgan and James Wong, who were also responsible for some of the show's other most memorable episodes, including "Squeeze" and "Beyond the Sea."
  • "Home" was the fourth episode of the show's fourth season and originally aired on October 11, 1996. It was directed by Kim Manners.
  • The episode was so controversial that it was banned from re-airing on Fox after its initial broadcast. It was also given a TV-MA rating, which was a first for the show.
  • The episode was partly inspired by a real-life incident in which a woman was found dead in her home and it was discovered that she had been living with her son and daughter, both of whom had severe birth defects. 
  • The episode was heavily criticized by some viewers and members of the press for its graphic violence and disturbing subject matter. The Parents Television Council called for a boycott of the show, and Fox received thousands of angry letters and phone calls about the episode.
  • The episode's climactic scene, in which Mulder and Scully discover the mother of the mutant family hidden under the bed, was shot in a single take. The actress playing the mother, Karin Konoval, was actually a professional contortionist.
  • The episode's original script was even more graphic and disturbing than what ultimately aired on TV. It included a scene in which one of the mutant brothers was shown having sex with his mother's severed head. This scene was ultimately cut for being too graphic, even by the show's standards.
  • The episode's title, "Home," is a reference to the phrase "home is where the heart is," but it takes on a much darker meaning in the context of the episode. The mutant family's "home" is a twisted, nightmarish place where unspeakable horrors take place.

In conclusion, "Home" remains a landmark episode of "The X-Files" and is considered one of the most memorable and disturbing episodes in the series. Its graphic content and controversial subject matter have made it a fan favorite, and its impact on the horror genre is still felt today.

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