Swamp Thing is a 1982 American superhero horror film directed by Wes Craven and based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The film stars Louis Jourdan as the villainous Dr. Anton Arcane, Adrienne Barbeau as government agent Alice Cable, and Ray Wise as Dr. Alec Holland, who transforms into the titular creature.
The film begins with Dr. Alec Holland working on a secret serum in his laboratory in the Louisiana swamps. He hopes to create a new species that combines animal and plant DNA so that it is strong and can survive in harsh environments. However, during a sabotage attempt by Arcane and his men, Holland is caught in an explosion that dumps his formula into the swamp, which results in Holland becoming the Swamp Thing.
Alice Cable is sent to investigate the explosion and finds Holland's notes, which show that an obsessed Arcane was the one who caused the sabotage. Arcane discovers that the formula in the swamp is the final piece he needs to restore his youth, and he and his henchmen set out to capture the Swamp Thing and extract the formula.
Swamp Thing aids Cable and fights against Arcane's men, but he is eventually captured. Arcane uses the formula on himself, but it backfires and turns him into a grotesque beast. In the final confrontation, Holland transforms back into a human temporarily and kills Arcane in a struggle. Holland then transforms back into the Swamp Thing and returns to the swamp, and Cable realizes that he is now the protector of the swamp and its creatures.
The film was a modest box office success and has since gained a cult following. It was followed by a sequel, The Return of Swamp Thing in 1989, and a TV series in 1990. A reboot film titled Swamp Thing was released in 2019, but it was canceled after one season.