Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis

Year: 1990

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

HorrorScience FictionHorror the undead and monster classicsSci-fi horror creatures and aliensChilling experiments and classic monster horror

Witness the Change! A geneticists working on a drug to stop ageing tries it upon himself with horrendous consequences.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Metamorphosis yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Metamorphosis (1990)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Metamorphosis (1990). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Private university campus, City hospital, Downtown club

The story centers on a private university campus where genetic research drives the plot, with laboratories and faculty offices forming the core setting. A city hospital appears as Peter's health deteriorates and the serum's effects become deadly. Scenes move through a nightlife club and urban streets, showing how the experiment's consequences spill into the wider city and crime scenes.

🎓 Private university 🏥 Hospital 🌃 City 🚨 Crime

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:27

Main Characters – Metamorphosis (1990)

Meet the key characters of Metamorphosis (1990), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Dr. Peter Houseman

A brilliant but obsessive geneticist at a private university who pursues an anti-aging serum despite mounting ethical concerns. His initial successes give way to violent outbursts and a monstrous transformation, driven by a belief that he will never die even as his humanity frays. The pursuit of immortality blinds him to the consequences suffered by those around him.

🔬 Scientist 🧬 Geneticist ⚖️ Ambitious 🩸 Dangerous

Dr. Mike Lester

A colleague who supports Peter and helps manage the research, caught between professional loyalty and growing concerns over the serum's effects. His role shifts as the project spirals out of control, and he ultimately becomes a casualty in the escalation.

💊 Doctor 🧪 Mentor 🕵️‍♂️ Investigator

Willy Carson

A young collaborator who shares Peter's enthusiasm for breakthroughs but is ultimately consumed by the project’s consequences. His fate underscores the human cost of pushing science too far.

🧪 Young researcher 📝 Idealist

Professor Lloyd

An elderly professor who resents Peter’s rapid progress and uses the funding debate to resist him. He becomes a key obstacle and ultimately a casualty, illustrating how jealousy and insecurity can weaponize intellectual rivals.

🎓 Elder professor 🗳️ Skeptic ⚖️ Rivalry

Sally Donnelly

An inspector who develops an attraction to Peter and navigates professional boundaries as she investigates the mounting violence and ethical concerns surrounding the serum.

🕵️ Inspector 💖 Complex

Patricia Kelly

A flirtatious student who had tried to seduce Peter; she becomes a victim of his uncontrolled aggression, illustrating the danger of crossing professional boundaries.

👩‍🎓 Student 🔥 Seductive

Tommy

Patricia's son who starts off wary of Peter but ultimately helps thwart the disastrous experiment by destroying the serum bottle, before escaping with his mother.

🧒 Child 🛡️ Courageous

Prostitute

A victim of Peter's violence at a club, a turning point that triggers his downward spiral and the escalation of the crisis.

💀 Victim 🕯️ Tragic

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:27

Major Themes – Metamorphosis (1990)

Explore the central themes of Metamorphosis (1990), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧬 Science Ethics

A central thread questions the morality of pushing beyond natural limits through genetic engineering. Peter's aging serum starts as a hopeful project but quickly reveals the danger of blurring lab ambitions with personal desires. The film highlights the heavy costs of unchecked scientific hubris, including harm to others and self-destruction.

🦎 Transformation

Peter's body mutates into a reptilian, dinosaur-like form as the serum advances. The transformation mirrors the erosion of Peter's humanity and the social order around him. It also raises questions about identity and what it means to remain human under extreme biological changes.

🏛️ Power & Control

The funding commission and the aging professor Lloyd symbolize institutional power in science. Their skepticism and competition collide with Peter's ambitions, fueling conflict and tragedy. The story shows how bureaucratic and academic power can enable risky experiments and shape their outcomes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:27

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Unlock the Full Story of Metamorphosis

Don't stop at just watching — explore Metamorphosis in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Metamorphosis is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Metamorphosis Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Metamorphosis, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Metamorphosis Summary

Metamorphosis Timeline

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Metamorphosis Timeline

More About Metamorphosis

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More About Metamorphosis