30 Years Later, The X-Files' Scariest Monster Made TV History

The Legacy of "Squeeze" in The X-Files

It has been three decades since The X-Files first captivated audiences, reshaping the television landscape by merging serialized science fiction with chilling case-of-the-week horror. While aliens and government conspiracies became central to the show, it was Season 1, Episode 3 — “Squeeze” — that truly set the tone for what made the series so groundbreaking. Airing in 1993, this episode introduced viewers to the show’s first true “monster of the week”: Eugene Victor Tooms, a terrifying mutant capable of contorting his body to slip through air vents and chimneys to stalk his victims and steal their livers. It also marked the debut of writers Glen Morgan and James Wong, who would go on to shape the series’ signature tone.

More than just a standout early episode, “Squeeze” proved that The X-Files could be about more than alien abductions. It introduced audiences to grounded, procedural horror and delivered one of television’s most unforgettable monsters.

The Birth of the Monster of the Week Format

By the time “Squeeze” aired, The X-Files had only delivered two episodes, both centered on alien abductions. However, creator Chris Carter knew the series couldn’t rely solely on extraterrestrials. “Squeeze” was the first episode to introduce a true standalone procedural case, establishing the show’s “monster of the week” format. It also leaned into horror more than sci-fi, helping solidify the dynamic between Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.

The case begins with the baffling murder of a Baltimore businessman whose liver has been removed without any sign of forced entry. The slow unscrewing of a vent cover has never been more chilling. The case is handed to FBI agent Tom Colton, who asks for Scully’s help. As she and Mulder investigate, he connects the murder to similar killings in 1933 and 1963, all marked by strange fingerprints and the same gruesome organ removal. They eventually arrest Eugene Tooms, a quiet, unsettling man with the terrifying ability to contort his body and squeeze through air vents and chimneys.

Mulder and Scully uncover that Tooms hibernates for 30 years at a time, emerging only to harvest five human livers in order to survive. It’s a disturbing premise, grounded in just enough eerie realism to crawl under your skin.

The Effectiveness of "Squeeze"

What makes “Squeeze” so effective is the way it taps into primal fears. Doug Hutchison’s eerie, restrained performance as Tooms is quietly terrifying, reminiscent of Anthony Hopkins’ chilling stillness in The Silence of the Lambs. The episode masterfully blends procedural beats with psychological terror, complete with unnerving music and shadowy cinematography that make it feel more like a horror film than a network drama.

One of the tensest moments comes when Tooms nearly attacks Scully in her apartment, only to be stopped by Mulder at the last second. It’s a pivotal scene, not just for the suspense, but because it marks the beginning of Scully’s loyalty, both to her partner and to the strange cases that defy explanation. Her FBI colleagues may scoff at Mulder’s outlandish theories, but this case forces her to confront the reality that some of them might be true. That tension between skepticism and belief would go on to define the character dynamics in The X-Files, and it all began with “Squeeze”.

The Iconic Nature of Eugene Tooms

Eugene Tooms, played to eerie perfection by Doug Hutchison, isn’t your typical TV villain. While his actions make him a serial killer, Tooms is portrayed as a genetic anomaly, someone who kills not out of malice, but out of a biological need to survive. That alone makes him a uniquely complex monster. Hutchison’s performance captures an unsettling range, shifting from quiet and soft-spoken to jarringly aggressive. He blends into society until he doesn’t, and with his ability to contort through impossibly tight spaces, the threat is constant.

No matter how secure you think you are, you’re never safe from him. That quiet menace, paired with the character’s chilling abilities, made Tooms one of The X-Files’ most memorable villains.

“Squeeze” also marked the first episode written by Glen Morgan and James Wong, a duo who would go on to define much of the show’s tone and style. Drawing inspiration from real-life serial killers, their writing balanced grounded procedural storytelling with deeply unsettling horror. They later co-created Final Destination, and their gift for crafting fear out of the everyday is already clear here.

Even though Tooms is a supernatural mutant who doesn’t age and survives by consuming human livers, the horror in “Squeeze” feels disturbingly real. The episode’s success proved that The X-Files didn’t need to rely solely on its alien mythology, proving its “monster of the week” stories could be just as terrifying.

The Lasting Impact of "Squeeze"

Tooms left such a lasting impression that he became one of the few villains to return in a later episode. Season 1’s follow-up, Episode 21, “Tooms,” also written by Morgan and Wong, expanded his backstory as he’s released from prison and begins stalking new victims. Hutchison returns with the same eerie presence, adding new layers to the character as Mulder and Scully race to stop him.

With his glowing yellow eyes, grotesque bile-soaked nest, and ability to contort through impossibly small spaces, Tooms proved nearly impossible to contain, and remains one of the most terrifying monsters in X-Files history.

Thirty years later, the impact of “Squeeze” still echoes across television. It remains one of The X-Files’ most iconic episodes, not just for how it helped solidify the dynamic between Mulder and Scully, but for proving that a monster-of-the-week format could be just as compelling as serialized storytelling. Shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Fringe, and more recently, Evil, have all followed in its footsteps, blending procedural structure with horror and the supernatural.

With just one unforgettable villain, Morgan and Wong helped redefine what horror could look like on network TV. And thanks to Doug Hutchison’s eerie performance, “Squeeze” still stands as one of the most chilling and enduring episodes in X-Files history. All episodes of The X-Files are available to stream on Hulu.