I think the point of the opening scene is clear, but all we see it do is turn things into super strong deformed prior versions of themselves. Is a human a super strong and deformed version of a paramecium or whatever?

There just seemed to be no distinct identifiable manner in which the goo evolved things. Or the alien DNA in the water. Or whatever. It seems a little too convenient to merely say "well it's alien DNA, it can do whatever it wants." Like, doesn't alien DNA have rules too? lol

I'm all for movies that allow for thought and filling in gaps... there's just soooo many gaps to fill here.