Review of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) by Bex — 16 Feb 2016

When I saw this advertised, I knew I had to see it, then it was released, only for it to be met by quite terrible reviews but as determined as ever to watch it, I went anyway.

It is beyond me how anybody could go to watch this movie with the idea that it is to be taken as a serious horror. If you go to watch it and take the film, as it is, a horror comedy, then I'm sure you will see the funny side. Pride + Prejudice + Zombies was created to parody the well-known English love story and although it does stay true to its Jane Austen roots, it doesn't disappoint on the zombie front. The movie does not lack in storyline and rather than just shoving zombies here, there and everywhere, they are added to the story so that it does make sense and it is explained without overdoing it.

Without question, the Bennett sisters are absolutely fierce and the movie features some pretty impressive fight scenes featuring the lovely ladies. Lily James plays bad*ss Elizabeth Bennett and she does an excellent job of doing the character justice. She plays the leading lady brilliantly and is quite an enviable hero. Throughout the movie there is a love-hate relationship going on with the moody Mr Darcy and Elizabeth. Although I found the character of Mr Darcy, played by Sam Riley, way too serious and not very likeable, you do begin to hope that, despite all the zombie mayhem in the way, Darcy and Elizabeth will get together in the end. Alongside this, you have the romance of Jane Bennett and Mr. Bingley. This is sort of a side story, even though it does fit in to the storyline overall, it isn't really that memorable. Mr. Bingley is somewhat quiet and we never really get to know that much about him. Jane, however, does feature in some key parts in the storyline and is quite an agreeable character overall, she even gets her own heroic moment in which she saves somebody's life. Matt Smith plays a hilarious part as silly Parson Collins. Collins brings some good laughs to the movie, at one point he has an eccentric dancing scene, which had me in absolute stitches of laughter. Pride + Prejudice + Zombies wouldn't be that funny without him and he does bring the majority of the comedy to the film. As soon as you spot the character of Parson Collins on the screen, you are probably already laughing because you kind of know what's coming.

Although the humour is deadpan and sometimes probably easily overlooked, it is there and if you enjoy dry jokes and a little bit of dark comedy you will probably enjoy this film. I would definitely watch it again; it's something unusual and is to be taken quite light-heartedly. It's a new take on a classic story and a fairly fresh idea.

Hang around at the end of the movie for an additional scene, halfway through the credits, which sets it up for a sequel but in my opinion it would probably be best to leave it at the one movie and not go over the top with it.

6.5/10.