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When “Twilight” came out, vampires and werewolves were all most teenage girls talked about. It went on for a few years until the last movie came out and all of a sudden vampires and werewolves decreased in conversations. That was a sign that a new monster had to gain fame. Thankfully before vampires and werewolves ceased to be the topic of choice, zombies were beginning to surface once more into actual horror-stricken monsters and not the joke that they had become. Zombies began to be incorporated into films and literature, whether that be original content or a retell of a story.
In 2009, author Seth Grahame-Smith published a book called “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” It’s a parody mashup of Jane Austen’s classic novel and zombie fiction. The title may be a tad cliche, but it surprisingly sold well enough to make film producers want a movie adaptation. After years of planning and filming, the movie of the same name was finally released on February 12th of this year.
The story follows the plot of Austen’s novel but it’s set in an alternate universe of 19th century Regency era England where innumerable zombies roam the English Countryside.
The book contained an entire blend of dark comedy, horror, action, romance, and strong women wielding all sorts of weaponry. The film included all of that, though some, if not most, of the comedic aspect of the entire novel was set aside to try and fit in as much as a two hour slot could allow for a story as large as “Pride and Prejudice.”
The original story is loved by many due to its various lessons of manners, humility, and the valuing of a person no matter how rich or poor they may be. However, when you add a thing as big as zombies, something is bound to be left out. Unfortunately, that something was almost the entire point and plot of the actual story. Obviously, “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” was made as a parody, yet the book still managed to captivate the reader into a nightmare-inducing world, as well as throwing them into a pit of drama and romance. Even though the movie felt rushed at times there were moments the audience would surely remember due to the fact that they were hilariously awkward.
“Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” had its moments where it made the audience laugh at the witty remarks made by Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and also at the quirkiness of some characters. In all honesty, Mr. Collins, the Bennet’s family cousin was by far the most enjoyable persona to watch. It was obvious that he was the comic relief of the movie, still, it was impossible not to laugh at his nonsensical outbursts and awkwardness.
In addition, PPZ also introduced its first female lead film of this year with the Bennet sisters getting much of the screen time. The only male counterparts who got as much screen time as them were Mr. Darcy and George Wickham, a soldier from the local militia. Nowadays, it’s important that women get a chance to be represented as strong and independant for such an rapidly advancing society like ours.
PPZ wasn’t the most critically acclaimed movie or a box office success, but it wasn’t boring either.
