The Phoenix Project

Perry Frank brings together four young scientists—Carter Watts, Devin Fischer, and Ampersand 'Amps' Garner—to attempt reanimating the dead. They give taped interviews praising the project and express guarded optimism about what they might achieve. Perry notes funding will be scarce and only five subjects can be tested, setting a cautious tone for the work.

The team agrees that progress must be slow due to a five-subject limit and public scrutiny. They plan a controlled sequence of tests and document their hopes and fears through interviews recorded in the lab. Devin, Carter, Devin and Amps share a mix of excitement and doubt as the project gets underway.

They begin with an insect to test the device, hoping to minimize risk. The experiment fails, prompting debate about whether to continue with smaller subjects. Perry remains hopeful but cautious as the others grow more anxious.

After the insect failure, Perry and Amps recalibrate for a mammalian subject—the mouse. Carter resists, dreading the killing of the animal, while Devin pushes for progress and public credibility. The team agrees to proceed with the mouse subject despite doubts.

The first mouse experiment fails to produce the desired reanimation. Frustration settles in as Carter and Devin give up for the day, though Amps convinces Perry to run a second test on the same subject. The team is not yet ready to abandon the project.

When Carter discovers the mouse's body has moved, the team briefly celebrates a potential breakthrough. Perry reassures him that he controls the situation, even as doubt lingers about what they really witnessed.

Carter privately suspects someone may have manipulated the mouse to raise morale. Perry admits he may be in control of the situation, signaling a shift in trust within the group. The atmosphere grows tense as the project teeters on a moral edge.

Devin pleads to contact the grant organization for more funds, only to learn that no grant exists and that Perry has been funding the work privately. Carter quits in protest, citing legal and ethical concerns, while Devin chooses to stay.

A rabbit is tested to keep public acceptance while avoiding larger subjects. Perry cautions against bigger animal testing, while Devin's personal motive—his sister's illness—becomes a factor as he contemplated reanimation.

Amps' updated calculations reveal the second mouse could not have moved on its own, challenging the earlier breakthroughs. Perry eventually confesses that he moved the mouse himself, leading Amps to demand time away from the project.

Devin pressures Perry to run another test without Amps, and the team achieves an unqualified success. Amps is initially angry but becomes excited by the potential. Perry contacts Carter to rejoin the project.

Devin convinces Amps to secretly test on a human subject, escalating the risk and crossing ethical boundaries. Perry threatens to call the police, underscoring the gravity and illegality of their actions.

To force a test on a human, Devin commits suicide, triggering a forced outcome. The subject's test appears initially successful, but Devin's memory and personality are wiped, rendering him unable to speak and fully function.

Perry orders the destruction of the equipment as the four scientists leave the lab carrying Devin, who stares at the world with wide eyes. The project collapses under the weight of its consequences.