Movie Review: Pride & Prejudice & Zombies

 

There are some classic books out there that people say everyone should read at least once in their lifetime. I am told Jane Austin's "Pride and Prejudice" is one of those books. I am going to be honest and say I have no interest in reading this book any time soon. It could be my younger age, or that I think it will bore me. However, this weeks movie is based on a book that takes this book I find no interest in, and adds something I do find interesting to it, Zombies. Even though I don't plan on getting the book right now, I hope you enjoy my review on Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.

The movie starts in a 19th century, semi-apocalyptic England with Colonel Darcy (played by Sam Riley) riding through the country side to a heavily guarded bridge. He comes upon a wealthy family's house and enters it through an underground passage. In the house we find a bunch of aristocrat people sitting and playing cards and/or enjoying tea. Everything seems fine as Darcy enters the room until he quietly declares there have been rumors that someone in that room was reported as bitten and turning into a zombie. He sits down to supposedly play cards with some of them. He then releases flies into the air that are attracted to dead flesh, which land on the gentleman across from him. Darcy smashes a glass and stabs the man in the throat, then decapitates him, as a girl runs out of the room. He asks if the guy came with anyone, but the lady of the house says no. We soon find out she is lying and he had in fact come with his niece, who ran out of the room and is also infected.

It cuts to black when we hear the voice of Mr. Bennet (Charles Dance) describe the origin of the zombie outbreak while we watch pop-up book pictures on the screen of what he's saying. The Black Plague hit London and began to create zombies. A wall was built to separate London from the zombies, and then a great trench was dug with only one remaining bridge to cross it. The hope was this would quarantine the Zombies in an area called  the In-Between. People trained in the oriental arts to defend themselves with the rich learning Japanese style fighting, and the poor learning Chinese style fighting.

The Bennet sisters, Elizabeth (Lily James), Jane (Bella Heathcoate), Kitty (Suki Waterhouse), Lydia (Ellie Bamber), and Mary (Millie Brady), who have all been trained in the Chinese style of fighting, are sitting in their living room polishing their weapons. However, their training is upsetting to their mother, Mrs. Bennet (Sally Phillips), who wants her daughters to be married off to wealthy suitors. As it turns out, the Bingley family has moved in nearby and are throwing a ball where Mrs. Bennet hopes that the young and handsome Mr. Bingley (Douglas Booth) will fall for one of her daughters. Elizabeth, however, doesn't want to seek out a husband. Lydia makes a comment about Elizabeth not being able to attract men, and Elizabeth chases Lydia out of the room.

This was a surprising movie. I was prepared for some cheesy comedy horror movie and instead I found it really enjoyable. I do not know how well it stuck to the original story line but I am a little curious to find out now. The plot was nice and full of everything most people would enjoy. A love story that is full of twists and surprises, mixed in with action and a good amount of gore. I actually jumped a couple of times along with others in the theater. There was also a good amount of laughter as well. The only thing a little unbelievable to me was the zombies thinking for themselves, but this is not the first movie to put this idea forward.

The acting was fun to watch. Lily James was in the first movie I reviewed for this blog, Cinderella, and she stole the scenes in this movie as well. Sam Riley was the perfect bruiting man with a negative attitude, exactly what you would expect in a hardened war colonel. The comic relief supplied by Matt Smith, who played Parson Collins, was spot on. I know that my Aunt who loves Dr. Who would enjoy him in this and I hope to be able to watch this with her.

Overall, the movie was a pleasant surprise and enjoyable to watch. This would be the perfect movie for the horror fanatics out there to watch for Valentines day, unless they have a better movie in mind. Do not leave as soon as the credits come, because they give us a hint that there might be a sequel. For these reasons I would rate this movie 8.9/10

It was nice to watch Lily James in this movie as we come up to my first year celebration of this blog. Watch for some big announcements about a give away for the month of March, because you are not going to want to miss this one.