Deep in the Louisiana swamps, botanist Alex Holland (Ray Wise) and his sister, Linda, are in development of a top-secret, government bioengineering project. Just as the sibling team makes a major breakthrough, government agent Alice Cable (Adrienne Barbeau) arrives at the lab to check in. Soon after, the lab is attacked by a paramilitary group—led by the outlaw scientist Anton Arcane (Louis Jordan)—who wants to weaponize the experiment for nefarious purposes. A lab accident ensues, and the rest is settled in the swamps. Based on a DC Comics (later Vertigo Comics) character of the same name, Swamp Thing was brought to the screen by producer and IU alumnus Michael Uslan, who was instrumental in attaching director Wes Craven to the project after securing the rights to the story years prior.