The X Files / The Căluşari / Notes

 This was another one of those evil possessing kids episodes. The Căluşari are this Romanian sect of exorcists, using birds and different ingredients and herbs concocted to ward off a presence invading a human victim. The head of this sect tells Mulder to be careful since that evil now knows him...yikes. After this was over, I have no idea why Scully could be as skeptical, considering the evil possessing little boy, Charlie (Joel Palmer), caused a big dustup in a room in the house of Charlie's mother, Maggie (Helene Clarkson). Maggie levitated off the floor and up against a wall, windows breaking, wind all stirred up, Scully thrown across the floor, you'd think some of the skepticism might have dissipated. I think for a majority of us, if we experience what Scully does, belief in the supernatural might have a slight bit of an uptick. Maggie's husband gets hung by his tie in the mechanics of a garage door as it opens, with Charlie crying out, "NOOOOO!!!!" so that tells us he isn't the evil that controlled a balloon to coerce his two year old brother to a train track at a carnival. Lilyan Chauvin, of "Silent Night, Deadly Night" notoriety, is the grandma who wants to help "cure" Charlie of the evil that possesses him. The direction of the episode certainly does paint Chauvin in a negative light...if anything, she's a menace who shouldn't be allowed in a room alone with the boy. That is until the stillborn death of Michael comes up and "Michael" gets his mom to take him home from the hospital. Charlie laying in bed when Mulder arrives, sending Scully to Maggie's house while he gathers up the Calusari boys for Charlie, "Michael" is quite a weaponized evil spirit wanting Mommy to take him to the carnival for a balloon.