Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

"I shall never relinquish my sword for a ring."

After a zombie outbreak hits London, Mr. Bennet (Dance) sends his five daughters: Jane (Heathcote), Elizabeth (James), Mary (Brady), Kitty (Waterhouse), and Lydia (Bamber), to China to learn to martial arts and weaponry.  Their mother wants them to find good husbands, and she is thrilled when a nearby property is purchased by the wealthy and single Mr. Bingley (Booth).  He is joined by his sophisticated sisters and his friend, the renowned zombie killer Colonel Darcy (Riley).  Bingley is smitten with Jane, while Darcy and Elizabeth immediately dislike each other.

A zombie attack breaks up the party as the Bennet sisters quickly dispatch the invaders.  Soon, they are entertaining their cousin, Parson Collins (Smith).  Collins is not trained as a fighter and is seeking a bride, setting his sights on the disinterested Elizabeth.  The sisters are also introduced to Lieutenant Wickham (Huston), who has new ideas about the zombie outbreak.  Can the Bennet sisters navigate their love lives, while protecting their family from the zombie horde?


In 2009, writer Seth Grahame-Smith took Jane Austen's popular novel "Pride and Prejudice" and turned it into a zombie story, titled "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."  His version, which gives Austen a co-author credit, retains much of Austen's dialogue and plot, but added in the potential zombie apocalypse.  The result was successful enough to spawn other mashups, including Grahame-Smith's "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter."

Studios wanted to turn the novel into a film since late 2009.  It went through numerous directors and writers before settling on Burr Steers as both screenwriter and director.  Steers used the novel as guide, but made extensive changes to the story.

I love "Pride and Prejudice" and I enjoyed "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," so I was intrigued by this film.  The cast works well in their roles.  Lily James is a strong female lead.  Matt Smith is hilarious as Collins.  I normally detest the character, but Smith makes him bearable and even entertaining.

Definitely not for everyone.  Don't expect it to be exactly like the book, but it does still retain much of Austen's language.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) 108 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for zombie violence and action, and brief suggestive material
Director: Burr Steers
Starring: Lily James as Elizabeth Bennet
Sam Riley as Mr. Darcy
Jack Huston as Mr. Wickham
Bella Heathcote as Jane Bennet
Douglas Booth as Mr. Bingley
Matt Smith as Mr. Collins
Charles Dance as Mr. Bennet
Lena Headey as Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Suki Waterhouse as Kitty Bennet
Ellie Bamber as Lydia Bennet
Millie Brady as Mary Bennet
Sally Phillips as Mrs. Bennet