John Jones is a Middleton Police Department Detective, who goes after crime with the help of his partner, Diane Meade. Though both sides are friendly enough, John always keeps her apart in fear that she may discover his secret. During a raid into a drug gang we see John's abilities to pass through matter and read minds, as he sus them to get the drop on most of the criminals, while also making sure no one sees him do it.
When returning home, he turns back into his real Martian form, and sees old movies from the Golden Age of cinema, shapeshifting between the actors and imitating them, all in order to improve his skills and try not to stick out that much. John is thus portrayed as a loner, someone that wants to have a connection, but is afraid that others may know the truth. During his usual walks outside he skims the minds of people, and seeing the darkness in humanity he feels he cannot ever trust them completely.
As the movie goes, John gets involved in a string of kidnappings and homicides, which he thinks are connected in some way, while others feel he's overthinking it. He meets with both John henry Irons, learning more about what's going on, and as he goes deeper he finds clues that may point to James Harper, the bodyguard of Director Westfield of the "Cadmus Group" an International Conglomerate that was founded by 4 childhood friends, and now has their fingers in every aspect of society; from electro domestics, to technology, entertainment, etc.
John feels he's onto something, which is aided by a tipoff from an informant; a scientist by the name of John Henry Irons, who claims he has evidence, but that this is big, and they may be trying to follow them. John tries to read his mind, but is surprised when he can't. The mystery gets deeper as CIA Agent, King Faraday, comes into the city with his own investigation, taking an unusual interest in John.
Things get even worse as the mystery gets even deeper as signs of the original founders of Cadmus controlling things behind Director Westfield are found, J'onn starts noticing his Mind Reading ability is being disrupted, and while all signs point to James Harper, there also seems to be something behind him as before he lost the ability to read minds, he was able to get the impression that he knew nothing about it. King Faraday talks to those who know John, forming a profile of a workaholic loner, but not a bad man. Diane seems to support him the most, as she respects his skill, But the other co-workers chime in with weird aspects they've noticed about him.
Meanwhile, Director Westfield is seen giving a report to the original founders of Cadmus, mentioning an investigation by John Jones. He's quickly disposed off because of his failure (killed), as the members (all hidden by shadows) call upon one of their scientists; Emil Hamilton, and ask him about the project. Hamilton seems exited and tells them of their new "Breeding" conditions, the "Guinea Pigs" and the many ways they can optimize production. He also mentions that there's been an uptick in "Failures" who managed to escape, and others that ended as "Hounds" before being told to keep up production. Once they're alone, they begin discussing the new threat, how they're too close to their objective, and how they can just send their "Guardian and his Hounds" to take care of it. Once it's all agreed, they summon the "Guardian"; James Harper.
John's investigation leads him to a meteor shower which happened decades ago, and they happened to land near the homes of the original founders of Cadmus; Tom Tompkins, Sam Wesley, Gabriel Castle and John Wells. Looking at old pictures and old reports, John starts noticing a pattern that has existed for longer than he expected now. Arriving at home, he finds King Faraday there, waiting for him. After a few moments of banter where Faraday mentions all that he's found about John, there's a moment of silence, and both sides fight in the apartment. John seems to get the upper hand, until Faraday turns on the kitchen and uses fire, damaging John severely and weakening him.
The fight resumes on more even grounds when there's a sudden high sound, and monstruous creatures break into the home, their claws and teeth's trying to kill both Faraday and John. both try to fight, but soon are overwhelmed, and try to flee. Faraday is nearly caught, but John moves to help him and both manage to escape by creating a distraction in the form of an explosion using the kitchen. On the outside, a cloaked figure, the Guardian, looks at the destroyed home, giving a report to his superiors through the radio.
John and King Faraday are alone, and wounded. Faraday asks why he saved him, John replies that though he can no longer read minds, he still learned about human emotions, and how to read them. All the while Faraday accused him in his home, he was doing so because he truly felt he had been killing people, not because of some agenda or a desire to look for a scapegoat; Faraday truly wanted to help, and John could never fault him for that.
Both sides agree to work together for now, but soon they have to go on the run as they are put as scapegoats for all the murders. Cadmus influence extending far beyond what they thought. The commissioner seems to be on their payroll, but Diana does not believe it's true. She is attacked by the same monsters that went after John and Faraday, but is saved by the actions of John henry Irons, who asks for her help. John was his contact, but with him gone, he needs someone that can help him expose Cadmus. She agrees and he leads her to take evidence, to the Cadmus underground lab.
John and Faraday combine their research, and narrow their search to an underground facility where Cadmus is making all kinds of experiments on clones, advanced technology, mutation, etc. They find many of the kidnapped victims as well, but they are confronted by Emil Hamilton, the lead researched or Cadmus, who monologues about his creations, the new age and advances this will all bring, etc. Faraday's had enough and tries to shoot him, but the Guardian once more makes his appearance. John aces the Guardian, recognizing him as James Harper. Faraday claims it's impossible; James Harper is dead; he found the research that he died in the Meteor Shower all those decades ago.
John Henry Irons and Diane move through the Cadmus lab, avoiding the patrols, then chaos erupts as the alarms warns of intruders, both thinking it's them, but soon finding there are others, both learning that it's John and Faraday. They reach Irons' lab and download the files, in the meantime, Irons begins powering up something he's been preparing to use, and since Diana has the info, he can now finally make sure the entire place burns to the ground.
He reveals a
Steel Suit.
The fight against Guardian turns for the worse as Emil calls on the "Hounds", John is using his superstrength, but James has the same. He cannot shapeshift as much as he wants because he's keeping Faraday from the enemies, and his mind reading powers are still on the fritz. Irons then bursts into the scene, using his new Steel suit, helping to take all the hounds down as he grabs Hamilton. John and Faraday manage to wound James, only to find him regeneration, and the inside of his body being composed of tentacles and biomatter unseen on Earth. Faraday shoots him again and again, eventually killing him with the aid of John.
Irons, John and Faraday catch up on what's going on, taking Hamilton with them as he raves at them. They find the victims and release them into Diane's custody. She leads them to safety as the trio (including Hamilton) move deeper into the lab, trying to find more answers. They find the cloning tanks, but they're making things that are less human, or at least partially, with the more ferals being sent to join the Hounds. There, they are met by the founders of Cadmus, or at least what they seem. John can now see that they are the main reason why he can't use his Mind Reading powers.
They reveal themselves to be Aliens; the Meteor Shower all those decades ago brought them to Earth, and at first they tried trusting humanity, but the kids they put their trust in abuse said trust, using their knowledge and powers for their own greed. They possess telekinetic and mind reading powers, and they could see in their minds how they would exploit them even more. So, they killed them and took their identities. Creating Cadmus to create what they needed to get home, cloning the "Guardian" in the shape of the kids caretaker to do the same. But after so many years, they realized that they could never achieve their goals if humanity still existed. They would find a way to go after them sooner or later, their greed and pettiness never letting them go. So, their new plan, to either kill off, or enslave humanity with their new breed of "DNAliens".
The fight begins with the DNAliens killing Hamilton, John and Irons facing the horde. While John and Irons try and distract them, Faraday moves to either sabotage the Cloning tanks or taking down the leaders. The fight is close, John being hurt when fire is involved and nearly dying save for the quick intervention of Faraday who manages to move him far enough as Iron's overloads his suit and sends it on a Kamikaze route before ditching it, causing an overload and destruction of the entire facility, the three survivors escaping just in time, seeing the entire place burn from the outside as the sirens of the firemen are heard.
John asks Faraday if he'll bring him in, Faraday says no. He was sent to catch a monster, and he doesn't see one here. Both sides shake hands as they split. Irons opens a Car Shop, where we see him working on a new version of the Steel Suit. The Commissioner was ousted from his position thanks to Diane's evidence. She is promoted and welcomes John back into the force. All goes back to normal, as a new case is put in his desk.
Post Credit Scene: Irons is awoken as he sees a bright light in the middle of his shop, and
a man being thrown out of some portal. He begins rambling at him about needing to run...It's coming!
