Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a fresh twist on Jane Austen’s widely celebrated novel. A mysterious plague has fallen upon 19th century England, the land is overrun with the undead and feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) is a master of martial arts and weaponry. Casting aside personal pride and social prejudices, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) must unite on the blood-soaked battlefield to rid the country of the zombie menace and discover their true love for one another.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (stylized as Pride + Prejudice + Zombies) is an American action comedy horror film based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith that parodies the 1813 British novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The film is directed by Burr Steers, who wrote the adapted screenplay. It stars Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston, Bella Heathcote, Douglas Booth, Matt Smith, Charles Dance and Lena Headey. It was released on February 5, 2016 in the United States.
About the Story
In an alternate reality, it is revealed that England, during the Regency era of Mad King George III, has been overrun by a zombie plague brought to England from nearby France or one of the colonies. To protect the capital city of London and the Royal Family, a large moat is built called the “Royal Canal.” A 100-foot tall wall is constructed around the City of London called the “Great Barrier.” Between the “Great Barrier” and the “Royal Canal” lies an area known as “The In-Between.” After the Second Battle of Kent, having defeated much of the undead horde, many aristocratic families leave an overpopulated London to return to their country estates, which they now deem as being safe enough to live in.
Colonel Darcy (Sam Riley) travels to the country estate of a wealthy family to investigate the emergence of a zombie. He arrives at the home and sits with the family before taking out a small vial containing a particular set of flies that can detect the undead. The flies land on the house’s patriarch, whose eyes turn red. Darcy breaks a glass and stabs the man in the throat before decapitating him. This frightens the man’s niece, and she retreats upstairs. When she is discovered, she has turned into a zombie as well and attacks.
The Bennet sisters – Elizabeth (Lily James), Jane (Bella Heathcote), Kitty (Suki Waterhouse), Lydia (Ellie Bamber), and Mary (Millie Brady) – have all received training in China from Shaolin monks (marking them as misfits, for while it has become the custom of the British gentry to study Eastern martial arts in the Orient, most prefer to go to Japan) and also been trained by their father in the art of weaponry and martial arts. Mrs. Bennet (Sally Phillips) wants her daughters to be married off to wealthy suitors. As it turns out, the Bingley family has moved in nearby and are throwing a ball, wherein Mrs. Bennet hopes that the young and handsome Mr. Bingley (Douglas Booth) will win over one of her girls. Elizabeth, on the other hand, doesn’t want to seek a husband.
The Bennets attend the ball. Bingley instantly sets his eyes on Jane. Darcy is in attendance and takes notice of Elizabeth, but he makes comments that she is unappealing, which Elizabeth overhears. She walks outside tearfully and encounters Mrs. Featherstone (Hermione Corfield), now a zombie. Mrs. Featherstone converses with Elizabeth, before she killed by Darcy. A horde of zombies then attack the party, prompting the Bennet sisters to spring into action. As they slay every zombie in their path, Darcy instantly becomes smitten with Elizabeth when he witnesses her in combat.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)
Directed by: Burr Steers
Starring: Lily James, Lena Headey, Charles Dance, Jack Huston, Suki Waterhouse, Matt Smith, Hermione Corfield, Bella Heathcote, Emma Greenwell, Ellie Bamber
Screenplay by: Burr Steers
Production Design by: David Warren
Cinematography by: Remi Adefarasin
Film Editing by: Padraic McKinley
Costume Design by: Julian Day
Set Decoration by: Naomi Moore
Art Direction by: Steve Carter, Will Coubrough, David Doran, Ashley Winter
Music by: Fernando Velázquez
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for zombie violence and action, and brief suggestive material.
Studio: Lionsgate Films, Sony ScreenGems
Release Date: February 5, 2016
Visits: 132
