Movie Review: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies


Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

What could be better than a period movie, with zombies?

Adapted from the YA novel, which itself is a modern spin on Jane Austen’s literary classic, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (PPZ) is set in an alternate England where the undead outnumber the living.

Lily James engages as heroine Elizabeth Bennet, a skilled fighter who learned martial arts in China.  Sam Riley nails the iconic and ever dour Mr. Darcy. Together they share the all-important chemistry required for the leads of Pride and Prejudice.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is packed with action and equally comedic. Matt Smith, of Doctor Who fame, is in his element as the self-involved and annoying Parson Collins. Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey portrays Darcy’s aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, the eye patch sporting, sword wielding, greatest zombie hunter that ever lived. Sally Phillips stole several scenes as Mrs. Bennet.

The film’s settings and dialogue hew closely to Austen’s original work though liberties have been taken to accommodate the alternate universe. George Wickham (Jack Huston) has a larger, more villainous and mustache twirling role. The CGI doesn’t distract from the story.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies tries to have its literary cake and its undead crumpets. Will literature fans who’ve never read the YA zombie adaptation enjoy the movie? Will fans of The Walking Dead, Zombieland and World War Z appreciate a literary twist to their genre? I enjoy both and found myself smiling through most of the movie.  Whether or not Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has broad appeal has yet to be seen.

 

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Written by Luke Kerr

Founder and host of Geek Confidential and Daytime Confidential.

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