Disillusioned from the rigorous experiences of the Crusades, knight Antonius Block, played by Guy Pearce, along with his cynical squire Jöns, portrayed by Stephen Lang, returns to a homeland deeply scarred by the devastating grip of the plague. The knight's journey takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Death and boldly challenges this ominous figure to a chess match, driven by a desperate hope that as long as he continues to play, he might postpone his ultimate fate.
As they traverse the countryside, Block and Jöns come across a wandering troupe of actors, featuring Jof and his wife Mia, along with their innocent newborn Mikael and the ambitious actor-manager Jonas Skat. One night, Jof awakens from a dreamlike vision where he sees Mary accompanied by the infant Jesus. Excitedly, he shares this revelation with a skeptical Mia, who listens with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
Their journey leads them to a church housing a mural of the Danse Macabre, where the squire criticizes the artist for contributing to the ideological zeal that instigated the Crusade. Seeking redemption, Block confides in the priest during confession about his desire to accomplish "one meaningful deed" in what he now perceives as a life filled with futility. In an unexpected twist, the priest divulges a chess strategy that could save the knight's life, only for Block to realize he's been conversing with Death all along.
Stepping outside the confines of the church, Block finds himself speaking to a young woman who has been condemned to fiery execution for her supposed links to the Devil. Hoping to learn secrets of life beyond the grave, he instead discovers her to be profoundly insane.
In a forsaken village, Jöns heroically intervenes to rescue a mute servant girl from the clutches of Raval, a theologian who once persuaded Block to join the Crusades but now roams as a petty thief. Vowing to disfigure Raval should they meet again, Jöns shares a brief moment of connection with the servant girl, urging her to earn her freedom by becoming his servant, to which she reluctantly acquiesces. The group soon makes its way to the town, where they find the actors putting on a performance. However, the excitement is cut short when Skat is lured away by Lisa, the wife of the local blacksmith Plog. An ensuing procession led by a flagellant preacher then disrupts the festive atmosphere.
At the town inn, manipulation by Raval causes tension among the patrons, leading to Jöns stepping in and brutally slashing Raval's face, re-establishing order. As the narrative unfolds, Block's circle expands to include Jof's family and a contrite Plog, who enjoy a moment of blissful respite, feasting on milk and wild strawberries gathered by Mia. Block resolves to remember this heartfelt picnic as a cherished memory for the remainder of his days.
In a generous gesture, he invites Plog and the actors to seek refuge from the plague within the safety of his castle. However, while traversing the wooded landscape, they encounter Skat once more, where Lisa chooses to return to her husband, while Skat pretends to take his own life in a display of faux remorse. The scene shifts dramatically as Skat's hasty attempt at self-preservation meets its end when Death appears and mercilessly felled the tree he sought to hide in.
Facing an imminent tragedy, Block meets the condemned woman, asking her to call upon Satan, yearning to uncover the mysteries of God. Though she asserts she has summoned the dark figure, all Block witnesses is her sheer terror as she is prepared for her fate on the pyre.
As the plague strikes Raval, a crucial turning point emerges. Jöns adeptly restrains the servant girl from offering him help, leading to Raval's isolated demise. The unsettling tension reaches a boiling point when Jof sees Block engaged in an intense chess match against Death, prompting him to escape with his family. Meanwhile, Block remains trapped in a game against the omnipotent figure of Death.
During the pivotal moment, Block, in defiance, topples the chess pieces only for Death to restore them, reminding him that the game is far from over. Death boldly declares, "No one escapes me," before finally achieving victory, signaling the end of their match with the grim promise that their next encounter will signify the end for all involved. As Block ponders whether he has accomplished his desired "meaningful deed," he finds solace in the knowledge that he has.
Reunited with his beloved wife, the group shares a poignant last supper, abruptly interrupted by the inevitable arrival of Death. As each character introduces themselves, the mute servant girl echoes the finality of their situation uttering, "It is finished."
In the aftermath of the storm, Jof and his family find refuge in their caravan. Jof interprets the stormy chaos as the Angel of Death passing, and upon dawn, he witnesses a haunting vision of Block and his companions being led away in a somber Dance of Death across the hillside.
