 " Hungry " is the third episode of the seventh season of the science fiction television series The X @-@ Files . It premiered on the Fox network in the United States on November 21 , 1999 . It was written by Vince Gilligan , directed by Kim Manners , and featured a guest appearance by Chad Donella . The episode is a " Monster @-@ of @-@ the @-@ Week " story , unconnected to the series ' wider mythology . However , unlike previous Monster @-@ of @-@ the @-@ Week stories , " Hungry " is told from the monster 's perspective . " Hungry " earned a Nielsen household rating of 9 @.@ 6 , being watched by 16 @.@ 17 million people in its initial broadcast . The episode received mixed to positive reviews from critics . 
