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Plot Summary


Athena-1, a research space station operated by the gene manipulation corporation Energyne, meets a catastrophic end when a laboratory rat named Larry undergoes a terrifying mutation and begins creating chaos. Among the crew, only Dr. Kerry Atkins (Marley Shelton) survives. She receives a directive from the company’s CEO, Claire Wyden (Malin Åkerman), to recover essential research canisters containing a dangerous pathogen. Although Dr. Atkins manages to escape in a pod during the station’s implosion, it tragically disintegrates upon re-entry, claiming her life and scattering debris across the United States. One of these canisters contaminates an American crocodile in the Everglades, while another reaches a forest in Wyoming, exposing a gray wolf to the pathogen.

Meanwhile, Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson), a primatologist and former U.S. Army Special Forces operative, dedicates his life to protecting wildlife at a San Diego preserve. He shares a deep bond with George, a rare albino gorilla he saved from poachers. One fateful night, a canister crashes into the gorilla’s habitat, leading to George’s exposure to the pathogen and resulting in alarming growth and aggression.

As the situation spirals out of control, Davis receives a call from Dr. Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris), a genetic engineer. She discloses the grave reality that the pathogen was engineered by Energyne to manipulate genes at an alarming scale. Initially inclined to advance the CRISPR project as a means for healing, she uncovered the company’s nefarious intentions to utilize the technology as a biological weapon, landing her in prison after they fired her for her whistleblowing. With George escaping captivity and rampaging through the preserve, he is soon captured by a government team under the command of Agent Harvey Russell (Jeffrey Dean Morgan).

Meanwhile, Claire and her brother Brett (Jake Lacy) employ mercenaries led by Burke (Joe Manganiello) to capture the mutated wolf, Ralph. However, their efforts end in disaster as they face fatal consequences. As Claire seeks to seize Ralph while leveraging George to eliminate Kate and erase the evidence of their misdeeds, she activates a massive transmitter atop the Willis Tower, manipulating the animals engineered to respond violently to a specific frequency, thus luring them to Chicago.

The unfolding chaos reaches a peak when George reacts violently to the sound, leading to a catastrophic plane crash. Managing to escape with Kate and Russell via parachutes, Davis soon discovers that George and Ralph have set their sights on the bustling city. With the military quickly overwhelmed by the emergence of a mutated crocodile named Lizzie, the situation worsens. Desperate, Davis and Kate set out to locate a serum, hoping it can revert the animals to their original forms.

Upon reaching Energyne headquarters in the Willis Tower, they acquire a limited number of serums. However, their victory is short-lived as Claire and Brett spot them. Claire reveals the serum merely dampens the animals’ aggression, rather than restoring them to their normal sizes, and she shoots Davis before he can react, though he survives. When George ascends to the top of the tower, causing further anarchy, Claire forces Davis to create a diversion while she attempts to escape with a hostage Kate.

In a twist of fate, Kate manages to slip the serum into Claire’s handbag, subsequently using a push to direct Claire towards George, who devours her alive alongside the serum. The ensuing chaos leads to George and the other animals destroying the transmitter, resulting in the collapse of the tower itself. Davis and Kate narrowly escape in a damaged helicopter as the structure falls.

Now with George’s true personality restored, Davis remains behind to assist him in confronting the remaining threats, while Kate races against time to prevent the military from launching a devastating MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) strike on the city. In a climactic showdown, Russell manages to retrieve vital evidence against Brett, who ultimately meets a tragic end as rubble buries him. In a masterful display, George and Davis outsmart Ralph, leading him to meet his fate at Lizzie’s jaws. Davis finishes off Lizzie by piercing her eye with an iron bar, bringing the immediate threat to an end. With the city saved, George contributes to clearing away the debris, a testament to their harrowing journey.

Timeline


Athena-1 Space Station Catastrophe

The research space station Athena-1, operated by Energyne, faces a catastrophic failure when a laboratory rat named Larry mutates into a monstrous creature. As chaos ensues aboard the station, it ultimately implodes, killing all except Dr. Kerry Atkins.

Athena-1 Space Station

Dr. Kerry Atkins' Directive

Surviving the station's destruction, Dr. Kerry Atkins receives an urgent directive from Claire Wyden, the CEO of Energyne, to retrieve important research canisters containing a dangerous pathogen. Despite her efforts, the escape pod she boards disintegrates during re-entry, resulting in her tragic death.

Pathogen Contaminates Wildlife

Debris from the destroyed Athena-1 showers across the United States, with canisters containing the dangerous pathogen falling into the Everglades and a forest in Wyoming. The contamination leads to a crocodile and a wolf being exposed to the pathogen, setting off a chain of catastrophic events.

Everglades & Wyoming

Davis Okoye and George's Bond

In San Diego, primatologist Davis Okoye shares a special bond with George, a rare albino gorilla he rescued from poachers. Their tranquil life comes to a sudden halt when one of the canisters crashes into their habitat, exposing George to the pathogen and triggering a transformation.

San Diego Wildlife Preserve

Call from Dr. Kate Caldwell

Dr. Kate Caldwell, a genetic engineer with inside knowledge of Energyne, contacts Davis to reveal the horrific truth about the pathogen. She explains that the pathogen was meant for gene manipulation and biological warfare, showcasing the company's malicious agenda, which landed her in prison after she exposed them.

George's Rampage

While in captivity, George begins to exhibit extreme growth and aggression, leading to a terrifying escape from the wildlife preserve. His rampage draws the attention of government agents, including Agent Harvey Russell, who are dispatched to contain the situation.

San Diego Wildlife Preserve

Capture of Ralph

Claire Wyden and her brother Brett send mercenaries to capture the mutated wolf, Ralph. Their team faces disastrous consequences during the attempt, showcasing the risks and unpredictability of dealing with genetically altered creatures.

Manipulation of the Animals

Claire activates a massive transmitter atop the Willis Tower, designed to control the mutated animals by emitting a specific frequency. This reckless move leads to chaos as George reacts violently to the sound, intensifying the threat level in Chicago.

Willis Tower, Chicago

Catastrophic Plane Crash

The chaos in Chicago escalates when George's rampage leads to a catastrophic plane crash. Davis, along with Kate and Russell, manage to escape the chaos using parachutes, realizing that the threat posed by the mutated animals is far from over.

Chicago

Search for the Serum

Desperate to stop the mutated creatures, Davis and Kate set out to find a serum that can revert the animals to their original forms. Their journey brings them to the Energyne headquarters in hopes of obtaining a solution to the escalating crisis.

Energyne Headquarters

Confrontation with Claire

Upon acquiring a limited number of serums, Davis and Kate come face-to-face with Claire and Brett. In a confrontation, Claire reveals that the serum only dampens aggression rather than reversing the mutations, leading to a dramatic turn of events.

Energyne Headquarters

Claire's Downfall

In a twist, Kate manages to slip the serum into Claire's handbag, leading to an unexpected turn of events. Claire's attempt to escape with Kate as a hostage backfires tragically as she becomes a victim of George's rage.

Willis Tower, Chicago

Collapse of the Willis Tower

With chaos ensuing, George and the other mutated animals destroy the transmitter, causing the Willis Tower to collapse. Davis and Kate narrowly escape in a helicopter, just as the massive structure falls around them, symbolizing the chaos unleashed by Energyne's experiments.

Chicago

Final Showdown

As the city recovers, Davis helps George confront the remaining threats posed by Ralph and Lizzie. In a climactic battle, Davis uses his skills to outsmart the rampaging animals, ultimately bringing them down and saving Chicago from total destruction.

Chicago

George's Redemption

With George's true personality restored, he assists Davis in clearing the city from the debris left after the chaos. Together, they symbolize hope and resilience, showing that their harrowing journey has not been in vain, as they help restore peace to their home.

Chicago

Characters


Davis Okoye

Davis Okoye is a devoted primatologist with a military background, characterized by his protective instincts over wildlife, especially his friend George. He embodies strength and compassion, showing dedication to rescuing the creatures affected by the pathogen. Davis navigates moral dilemmas throughout the chaos while striving to save the city and his friend.

🦍 Hero 🌍 Protector ⏳ Military

George

George is a rare albino gorilla who shares a profound bond with Davis. Initially gentle and playful, his character transforms drastically due to the pathogen, displaying overwhelming strength and aggression. His journey reflects the theme of loyalty, and his eventual restoration to normalcy symbolizes hope amidst destruction.

🦍 Gorilla 💔 Friend 🦁 Mutated

Dr. Kate Caldwell

Dr. Kate Caldwell is a determined genetic engineer who realizes the dark implications of Energyne's experiments. Despite her past struggles and imprisonment, she emerges as a vital ally in fighting the chaos. Her courage and intelligence drive many of the narrative's critical turning points.

🔬 Scientist 💪 Resilient 🎭 Whistleblower

Claire Wyden

Claire Wyden serves as the main antagonist, driven by corporate greed and a desire for power. Her character represents the moral corruption present in the pursuit of scientific advancement without ethical responsibilities. Her manipulative actions catalyze much of the chaos that unfolds.

💰 Villain 🚫 Corruption 🔥 Ambitious

Setting


Time period

The events take place in contemporary times as evidenced by modern technological references and the ongoing themes of genetic manipulation and corporate malfeasance. This setting drives the narrative, highlighting current ethical concerns surrounding science and biotechnology.

Location

Athena-1, Everglades, San Diego, Wyoming, Willis Tower, Chicago

Athena-1 is a research space station where the initial chaos ensues due to the mutation of a laboratory animal. The Everglades provides a natural setting where one of the canisters contaminates a crocodile, while Wyoming serves as the location for another affected animal, a gray wolf. San Diego is depicted as a wildlife preserve where Davis Okoye and George share a bond. The Willis Tower in Chicago plays a pivotal role as the site where the climax unfolds amidst city chaos.

🛰️ Space Station 🌴 Everglades 🦍 Sanctuary 🏢 Skyscraper 🌆 City

Themes


🧬

Genetic Manipulation

The movie explores the dangerous prospects of genetic engineering taken to extremes. Energyne's misguided ambition to weaponize genetic manipulation leads to uncontrollable and catastrophic mutations. This theme underscores the moral dilemmas and consequences of scientific advancements without ethical oversight.

🦁

Animal Companionship

Davis's deep connection with George highlights the theme of companionship between humans and animals. Their bond serves as the emotional core of the story, emphasizing loyalty and the protective instincts towards creatures that are often vulnerable. This relationship is tested throughout the chaos brought on by the mutations.

⚔️

Survival and Resistance

The characters confront various life-threatening challenges as they navigate the chaos unleashed by the mutations. Their struggle to survive against both mutated beasts and the corrupt corporation reflects a broader theme of resistance against overwhelming odds. The fight to save the city emphasizes resilience and teamwork in the face of danger.

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