明朝(cháo )成(chéng )化年间，朝(cháo )纲腐(fǔ )败，奸(jiān )邪当道。西厂东厂(chǎng )为宦官把持，混淆黑白(bái )，陷害忠良，朝野内外噤若寒(hán )蝉(chán )。时有赵怀(huái )安(ān )（李连杰 饰）等流亡剑客挺身(shēn )而出，接(jiē )连铲除东厂数名奸佞，致令阉贼胆战心惊。适值此时，风头正劲的西厂