Reri and the youngsters Matahi are inlove with each other. The old warrior Hitu announces that Reri would be still the newest chosen virgin to its gods. What this means is she must stay unaffected, otherwise her fan along with her is going to be killed. But Matahi abducts and escapes to an island ruled by the white man, at which their gods would be harmless and helpless with her. Tabu is the last film from director F.W. Murnau. He died before the premiere of the film in a car crash.