Set against the antebellum Southern United States, the film follows the story of Nat Turner, an African American slave and preacher in Southampton County, Virginia. Gifted with preaching, Turner is exploited by his financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.

Through his travels as a preacher, Nat's eyes are opened to the grim reality of slavery across different plantations. The brutal treatment of slaves compels a drastic transformation in him. His belief in peaceful resistance is overtaken by the conclusion that violent action is necessary for change. The bonds formed with the other slaves fuel the fire of rebellion, setting the stage for an historic insurrection.