Disillusioned knight Antonius Block (Max von Sydow) and his nihilism squire Jöns (Gunnar Björnstrand) return from the Crusades to find Sweden ravaged by Black Death. The knight encounters Death (Bengt Ekerot), whom he challenges to a chess match, believing he can forestall his demise as long as the game continues. Death agrees, and they start a new game which continues throughout the story.