A zombie outbreak has fallen upon the land in this reimagining of Jane Austen's classic tale of the tangled relationships between lovers from different social classes in 19th century England. Feist...
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies & Swords & Martial Arts & Just...urghhhh. Suffice to say, I didn't enjoy this. No point dancing around the inevitable conclusion. This just didn't work for me. Now, I'm sure the source material parodies Austen's original novel much more successfully than this adaptation does. Or, alternatively, the book may not sit right with me either. Like the undead, let's dissect this mediocre mess. Utilising the same characters, Elizabeth Bennett is caught in a love triangle but must also fight for survival against a horde of zombies. Hertfordshire has never looked so appetising. Flourishing with frocks, corsets and daggers strapped to provocative thighs. The authentic costume design is a stand out and certainly captures the period setting of rural England. The acting was good, particularly from James who continues to impress. So, why didn't I like it? Well, for me, the blend of genres didn't work and were unbalanced. By tagging 'Zombies' at the end of an already infamous title, one would expect the undead to take precedent and be at the forefront. Alas, the period romance took priority. Which would be absolutely fine if the actual adaptation of the 'Pride & Prejudice' story was decent. It's not. The romance, especially between Elizabeth and Mr Darcy, was more lifeless than the eponymous monsters. Riley was an incorrect casting choice and felt out of place. Smith provides the comic relief, and it seriously doesn't work. The story never feels involving, and it's impossible to not think about the several other adaptations that are significantly more engaging. However, the real issue that gets under my skin, are the zombies themselves. They talk. They go to church hearings. They disguise themselves as humans. I mean, call me old fashioned, but I like my zombies slow. I like them groaning. I like them actually being in a film for more than ten minutes. Practically none of it worked for me. Yes, it's watchable and is paced reasonably well. But the genres didn't blend and consequently produced a highly ineffective adaptation.
