Movie Monday: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

When opportunity arises, I feature Movie Monday. I recognize few people have the time or desire to read the amount I do, especially when it comes to the 100 Best Novels list. Luckily, Hollywood loves adapting a classic and I love a good story in any form.

Film Title: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Book Title: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Release Year: 2016

Summary: It's a bloody twist on an old classic. The basic story of Jane Austen's novel remains intact, but it now has one important addition: zombies.

What I Thought: I grabbed this one from Netflix because I thought Kevin and I could enjoy it together. About twenty minutes in, I realized that he probably wasn't even familiar with the story of Pride and Prejudice. I was laughing at specific lines which called back to the novel and he was not getting it. Not his thing after all. We ended up going to bed after the first half hour and I finished the movie by myself the next afternoon.

I thought it was great. It's cheesy and ridiculous and so full of troupes, but what a fun crossover between two pop culture worlds. I haven't read the book, but it made me want to a little. The fun here is absolutely that both cultures are being poked fun at a bit.

I actually really liked the premise of facing zombies in an earlier era. It got me thinking a lot about how culture would have changed and shaped around the threat. Fashion, function, all of it would have shifted around survival. Of course, this likely means that much of the formality of the Jane Austen world would have fallen by the wayside, but I think that's what makes it so delightful to see the two mixed.

I think this movie was great for a laugh and to have on in the background as I worked on lesson planning and school stuff. The little details that were changed from Austen's original plot were largely well-executed. It did make me wonder....what would Austen herself have thought of this adaptation? Would she have enjoyed seeing her dear Elizabeth Bennett as a feisty, fierce zombie killer? I like to think she would have.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Will I Re-Watch: Doubtful

A Reduced Review: Fun and frivolous - a great blend of two diametrically opposed pop cultures.