Sci-fi fantasy horror. Two renegade young scientists, Clive Nicoli (Adrien Brody) and Elsa Kast (Sarah Polley), knowingly transgress legal and ethical boundaries by conducting a dangerous experiment in which they combine or 'splice' DNA from human and animal sources. Their experiment results in the creation of a new creature whom they christen Dren (Delphine Chaneac). Dren, who resembles a human female but has animal features including wings and aquatic lungs, at first exceeds the wildest dreams of her makers - but as she continues to grow and learn at an alarming rate, her existence gives rise to deadly consequences.