A woman reporter in over her head in trying to write a book on the male machismo in Spain finds the men don't match her story's expectations. She also finds herself involved in relationships with the wrong men.

In the 19th century, a bullied, disfigured man dubbed Iguana flees from abusive locals, finds his own island and declares himself tyrant of his new domain. A man and a woman get stranded there and become victims of his new sadisti...