Sanguinarium

"Sanguinarium"
The X-Files episode
A doctor is shocked to discover he has mutilated the face of a patient with acid. Many critics were critical of the gore featured in the episode.
Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 6
Directed by	Kim Manners
Written by	Vivian Mayhew Valerie Mayhew
Production code	4X06
Original air date	November 10, 1996
Running time	44 minutes
Guest appearance(s)
O-Lan Jones as Nurse Rebecca Waite Nancy J. Lilley as Liposuction Patient John Juliani as Dr. Harrison Lloyd Andrew Airlie as Attorney Celine Lockhart as Skin Peel Patient Arlene Mazerolle as Dr. Theresa Shannon Richard Beymer as Dr. Jack Franklin Paul Raskin as Dr. Eric Ilaqua Gregory Thirloway as Dr. Mitchell Kaplan Nina Roman as Jill Holwagerm Martin Evans as Dr. Hartman Marie Stillin as Dr. Sally Sanford
Episode chronology
← Previous "The Field Where I Died" Next → "Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man"
List of season 4 episodes List of The X-Files episodes

"Sanguinarium" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of the American science fiction television series The X-Files. "Sanguinarium" was written by newcomers Vivian and Valerie Mayhew and directed by Kim Manners, and is a "Monster-of-the-Week" story, a stand-alone plot which is unconnected to the series' wider mythology. It first aired in the United States on November 10, 1996 on the Fox network, earning a Nielsen rating of 11.1 and being seen by 19.85 million viewers upon its initial broadcast.

The show centers on FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) who work on cases linked to the paranormal, called X-Files. In "Sanguinarium", bizarre murders in a hospital's plastic surgery unit lead Mulder and Scully to suspect a supernatural force may be responsible. As the uncontrolled killings continue, Mulder discovers a link between the victims' dates of birth and key dates on the witchcraft calendar.

The episode started as a spec script written by two fans of the series. It features several references to real life witchcraft sources. "Sanguinarium" received mixed reviews from critics; negative criticism was given to the number of inconsistencies in the plot. The episode's use of gore also drew a mixed reaction; some critics felt that the gore helped, while others felt that "Sanguinarium" relied too heavily on it to cover up weaknesses in its storyline.

During a routine liposuction operation in Winnetka, Illinois, Dr. Harrison Lloyd (John Juliani) suddenly begins to violently remove such large amounts of fat from a patient that the patient dies. Following the unusual experience, Lloyd tells Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) that he killed the patient due to being spiritually possessed. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) is skeptical about Lloyd's claims, believing he's only making it up to escape legal consequences. Mulder inspects the operation room and discovers a pentagram burned into the floor, suspecting witchcraft as the cause.