In a violent relationship, it takes a mother’s strength to save herself and her children from the man she loved. Once Were Warriors is a violent love story set against a contemporary urban backdrop.

Lucinda lives a fairytale life with dairy farmer Rob, and his 117 cows. But after a freak car accident she decides to test Rob's love for her by trying to make him angry. He passes her tests until a quilt goes missing from their bed and the price of getting it back is high.

Grub, a young surfer, is caught in a conflict between his boss, former surf legend Claw, and his passion for Vanessa, a mysterious Maori woman tattooist. Driven by his desire to be tattooed and 'become a man', Grub ignores warnings that Vanessa could be 'Hine Nui Te Po', the Maori sea goddess and mythical 'Eater of Life'. Rebelling against Claw, he is drawn ever deeper into Vanessa's ambiguous world of pleasure and pain, fantasy and reality, until finally the young surfer must face death in order to understand life.