Species

Speculative fiction writer Dan Smith (played by Fionnula Flanagan) stirs up some controversy at the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute in 1993 with her novel "Species," which proposes an alien being capable of altering shape and appearance through rapid cell division, giving it a unique ability to adapt to its environment and evolve to achieve its goals. This premise fascinates the SETI Project, particularly the brilliant and charming geneticist Dr. Ian Geiger (played by Alfred Molina), who is recruited by the team leader, Dr. Herbert Caine (played by Benjamin Bratt), to develop a way to synthesize the alien DNA. During their research, the team stumbles upon a series of encrypted messages that ultimately lead them to a transmission containing the complete structure of the alien DNA and instructions on how to splice it with human DNA. This revelation ignites excitement and trepidation among the team members, as well as concerns from higher authorities. The instructions include a warning about the potential consequences of mixing human and alien genetic material, cautioning against the creation of a hybrid that could be too powerful to control. Dr. Geiger, driven by scientific curiosity and ambition, convinces the team to proceed with the experiment, ignoring the potential risks. They eventually manage to create a DNA strand that can combine human and alien genetic information, which they plan to use as a tool to help humans adapt to various environments. However, their experiment results in a highly unstable and violent creature, a being with both human and alien characteristics, whom they name Sil. At a dinner party hosted by Dr. Caine, Sil is introduced as a potential model who appears as a stunningly beautiful young woman. However, she is not as ordinary as everyone initially thought. Sil possesses the unique ability to rapidly alter her shape, transforming into an agile and nearly indestructible killing machine with an almost supernatural strength. As Sil's true nature begins to surface, her transformation becomes a matter of immense concern. With her deadly abilities, she is more than a match for most humans and quickly dispatches anyone in her path, creating a trail of chaos and destruction. Dr. Geiger and Sil's creator, Dr. Laura Bishop (played by Marg Helgenberger), find themselves forced to confront the terrifying consequences of their creation. Sil's deadly power and agility render her nearly unstoppable. The military is drawn to the situation, as it sees the potential for Sil to be used as a deadly soldier for special operations. However, with her growing powers, Sil's true intentions and loyalties become increasingly ambiguous. Dr. Geiger, determined to protect himself and those around him, tries to unravel the mystery behind Sil's transformation and figure out a way to control or contain her. As the situation spirals out of control, Dan Smith is forced to come to terms with the devastating consequences of her speculative writing. Sil's creation becomes a reflection of humanity's own darker aspects – its capacity for violence, its ambition for power, and its propensity for disaster. With each new attack and violent outburst, Sil's transformation becomes more complete, and the question remains: will anyone be able to stop her, or will she ultimately become the downfall of humanity?