Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a 2016 film based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith. The novel can be described as a “parody” novel and combines elements from Jane Austen’s 1813 classic novel “Pride and Prejudice” with elements of modern zombie fiction, making for a unique plot.

The cast features familiar faces such as Lily James from Disney’s remake of Cinderella and Sam Riley from Disney’s remake of Maleficent, along with some newer actors and actresses. The majority of the cast hails from the United Kingdom, where the story takes place. However, one of the actresses, Bella Heathcote, who plays Jane Bennett, is from Australia.

The story follows the plot of the original “Pride and Prejudice”, except it takes place in an alternative universe where Regency-era England is overrun by zombies that turned during the Black Plague. The presence of the zombies alters the plot in several ways: sometimes couriers are eaten by zombies when attempting to deliver messages from house to house, leading to miscommunication; characters judge the zombie-slaying abilities of others as opposed to wealth; and marriage is not as big of an issue in this world. Familiar characters also take on different roles. For example, Darcy is now the highly skilled, well-established Colonel Darcy. Lady Catherine de Bourgh still retains her title and influence, however she is notorious for being one of the world’s greatest zombie slayers of all time.

In comparison to the original “Pride and Prejudice” novel and the 2005 film starring Keira Knightley, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies stays true to its roots and provides a refreshing new take on them. The first noticeable difference between PPZ and the original is the overall tone and atmosphere. PPZ has a darker, more serious feel compared to the carefree, lighter feel of the 2005 film. In addition, the alternate universe within the movie has its own alternate history to explain why there are hordes of zombies roaming around the English countryside.

Most zombie films involve intense action scenes between the living and the undead, and PPZ doesn’t disappoint in that category. The 2005 Pride and Prejudice film didn’t contain any exciting action scenes, and PPZ more than makes up for that. Zombies pop up at the most unexpected times, but the characters are always ready to fight them.

Another modern twist to the film is the inclusion of strong female characters. While the original story already had that, PPZ takes it to new heights. Nearly all of the female characters are highly trained in the “oriental arts” and can skillfully put the undead to rest. Elizabeth and Jane Bennett in particular save Colonel Darcy and Bingley during combat when they are about to become zombie food.

All in all, PPZ is definitely a must-watch. Fans of the original Pride and Prejudice will enjoy this movie because it stays true to the original plot while still adding an element of its own. It is exactly how one would imagine the story to be if it were set during a zombie apocalypse.