The Roman general Titus Andronicus (Anthony Hopkins), returns to Rome after avenging the murder of the Emperor, only to turn down the offer to fill the position himself. He nominates Saturninus (Alan Cumming), the Emperor's spoiled pip-squeak son, who accepts and demands the hand of Titus' daughter Lavinia in marriage. The Emperor's other son, a hero in his own right, spirits away Lavinia with the help of Titus' own warrior sons. Saturninus and his passive-aggressive new bride, Tamora, vow revenge upon Titus and his family. Their efforts are turned against them in a horrifying, yet ironically clever manner truly worthy of a Shakespeare tragedy.