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Wednesday, April 24, 2024
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HOLLYWOOD PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES
EDITOR'S PICK
'Pride
and Prejudice and Zombies' - Mishmash of genres
Rating:
**
Based on Seth Grahame-Smith's novel of the same name, this horror film retells
Jane Austen's classic tale of manners. It reveals the tangled relationships
between lovers from different social classes in 19th century England, albeit
with a twist that involves zombies.
At the very onset, we are informed by a voice-over that Britain has turned into
a horror zone with zombies living in close proximity to humans. To protect
themselves the humans are holed up within the walled city of London and have
relegated the zombies to the "In-Between," an area outside of the
walled-in city but inside a royal moat.
In the Bennet household, the sisters Elizabeth (Lily James), Jane (Bella
Heathcote), Kitty (Suki Waterhouse), Lydia (Ellie Bamber), and Mary (Millie
Brady) are all trained in the art of weaponry and martial arts. Their mother,
Mrs. Bennet (Sally Phillips) is worried about their future as she wants them to
be married off to wealthy suitors.
The suitors include Colonel Darcy (Sam Riley), an investigator who slays newly
infected zombies; his close friend Mr. Bingley (Douglas Booth), who is the
Bennet's new neighbour; Mr. Collins (Matt Smith), the girl's cousin who is a
pastor; and Mr. Wickham (Jack Huston), a charming soldier.
How the girls, with their pride, prejudices and daggers in their garters,
navigate through the treacherous paths of marriage proposals, forms the crux of
the film.
Director Burr Steers' script seems unsure of the plot. Though he ensures the
action sequences are as sharp as the wits quotient, he fails to leave an impact.
In fact, the plot shuffles between action, horror and romance in a much
unfocused manner, not doing justice to any one genre in particular.
On the performance front, Lily James as the spunky and spirited Elizabeth steals
the show. She captures the essence of the agile, alert Elizabeth's personality
along with her fighting skills with great ease. She is the only character you
feel for.
Bella Heathcote as Jane is pleasant in a short role and the rest of the sisters
in one dimensional roles are all wasted.
Sam Riley brings a touch of stubbornness to the role of Mr. Darcy and is aptly
paired opposite Lily. Matt Smith as Parson Collins is over dramatic and steals
every scene he is in. Jack Huston as Mr. Wickham conveys the bitterness he has
for Mr. Darcy subtly.
Sally Phillips as Mrs Bennet is a caricature of the original character designed
by Jane Austen. She lacks the punch of the pushy go-getter mother and Charles
Dance as Mr. Bennet is adorable as the loving father.
Remi Adefarasin's cinematography with steady camera work and well-angled shots
are pleasing visually. With intense lighting and a subtle earthy palette he
captures the atmosphere and era as well as the action brilliantly.
The visuals along with the well calibrated background score layered by editor
Padraic Mckinley, is what keeps you hooked.
But overall you keep wondering why anyone would want to retell a classic and
ruin the charm of the original tale.
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. Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) is a master of martial arts and weaponry and the handsome Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) is a fierce zombie killer, yet the epitome of upper class prejudice. As the zombie outbreak intensifies, they must swallow their pride and join forces on the blood-soaked battlefield in order to conquer the undead once and for all.
