X-Cops

"Secret Cops" (English "X-Cops") is the twelfth episode of the seventh season of the TV series "The X–Files". The episode belongs to the "monster of the week" type and is not related to the main "mythology" of the series. The series is also a "crossover" with the popular American reality show "Cops", as a result of which the crew of this show participates in it.

The creature shown in the episode looks like a monster from the third episode of the third season of the TV series "Paranormal Wellington". Given the overall style of the show, there is a possibility that the creators of the series about "paranormal cops" in New Zealand were inspired, among other things, by this series.

During the investigation of the strange murders in Willow Park, Mulder and Scully meet with the crew of the reality show "Cops". Mulder, who believed that they were hunting a werewolf, finds out that the monster feeds on the fear of death and takes the form of what scares the victim the most. Mulder likes the presence of the film crew, but Scully feels uncomfortable in front of the lens.

FBI agents are chasing a creature that takes the form of the strongest fear of man. It acts on a full moon and can take the form of ordinary people, monsters from movies and scary stories, as well as a deadly disease. Attacking a person, the monster feeds on his fear, while leaving physical traces not only on the victim's body, but also on surrounding objects. The creature attacks only those who are afraid for their lives, while other people nearby do not see anything unusual. After killing one victim, the monster quickly finds the next one – usually from among the people who happened to be nearby.

The creature cannot be caught, with the sunrise it simply disappears.