Few things can make a movie more tolerable like low expectations. The lion’s share of these expectations and preconceived opinions for me stem primarily from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ trailers - Looking so much like a ‘Hansel and Gretel,’ (2013) or ‘Van Helsing,’ (2004) or ‘Brothers Grimm,’ (2005) or any other classically-based story ‘modernized’ for today’s audiences, with hip, and stylish young actors looking cool and engaging in all sorts of parkour-esque moves while glibly dispensing witticisms.
Okay, I admit, I have NOT seen any of those films, so it isn’t fair of me to judge, but those are the reasons why I won’t.
To my great surprise, however, ‘P&P&Z’ does not play like one of those blatantly anachronistic examples of millennial-targeting cinema. Moreover, it attempts to maintain some sort of an albeit tenuous grasp on Jane Austen’s original storyline, following the five Bennet sisters’ pursuit of an appropriate, socially-mobile, husband before their spinster years of the late twenties.
The obvious difference in the story is the whole ‘zombie apocalypse’ thing that’s going on. Which, to be honest, has a cool backstory of its own.
Through an illustrated narrative, it is revealed that in the alternative reality in which Pride And Prejudice And Zombies is set has been dealing with the zombie virus for close to a century. Structures, fortifications, and general precautions are commonplace as the undead are now a part of life. This provides a nice element in the film with the living discussing the undead in an almost blasé manner, such as the family talking about how to remove zombie blood from marble.
The main cast is so entrenched in the prim and proper Regency Period-styles and mannerisms that the contrast of zombie fighting seems pretty far-fetched. But the story does mention the training of young people in the arts of the East as part of a “proper education,” as a way to blend these skills into the whole period’s mentality.
I was particularly impressed with the choice of zombie styles in this movie: Russo-style zombies, a la ‘Return of the Living Dead.’ A rarely seen zombie type in films these days, ‘Russos’ (See my Zombie Classification Chart for more on this!) can talk, think and even set traps for the living. They attempt to blend into society for the sole purpose of feeding on people. Heck, they even feast on brains! That last part plays a key role in the film, too, with a small creative departure from the Russo-style.
Lastly, former-Time Lord Matt Smith absolutely steals every scene he is in. His foppish Parson Collins provides some comic relief without being blatant or cartoonish.
So, yeah! I enjoyed this entry into the genre, against my expectations! I then held it up to my Zombie Movies Rubric and found it scored an admirable 2.75 out of 4, uh, Stars? Points? Bites? (I should really have a scoring standard in place.)
In any case, 2.75 translates to a “definitely worth a rental” recommendation.
Slightly too hip and stylish music-video-style trailer from the YouTubes: PRIDE & PREJUDICE & ZOMBIES
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