Edward Van Bohlen is estranged from his family and their winemaking business. His new girlfriend, Victoria Wells, has convinced him to return to the family at their winery near San Francisco to reconcile despite Edward's warning that his family is eccentric and reclusive. Victoria is treated coolly by the family, but she nevertheless becomes involved in the family power struggle. Victoria discovers that the family has been using the
Africanized bee strain to improve yields at the winery. Maria Van Bohlen, a strong-willed woman and
matriarch of her family, runs the family wine business. Her family refers to her as "Madame." She also has a psychic link that allows her control over the swarm of
killer bees that reside in her vineyard. Van Bohlen serves as the queen of the hive. Victoria discovers that Van Bohlen is using this power to kill people she perceives as threats, but the family appears to refuse to accept this. Van Bohlen dies under mysterious circumstances, and although law enforcement officers are highly suspicious, they are unable to obtain a search warrant to investigate further and close the case. Victoria and Edward plan to leave the family and return to their life as soon as the funeral is over. During the Van Bohlen funeral, the bees attack the church. Victoria is cut off and shepherded by the bees into the attic housing their main hives; however, they do not attack Victoria. Rather than leave, Victoria returns to the winery, now accepted as queen both by the family (who now calls
her "Madame") and by the swarm. ==Cast==