Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) is For the Girls

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) alt poster

     Romance lovers everywhere consider Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to be a trailblazer for the classic courtship novel. This book paved the way for so many incredible stories, but more importantly, stories involving incredible women. Jane Austen herself inspired so many women to write and create and publish and pour their hearts unashamedly into the genre, much to all of our benefit. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) features women in a strong and confident light, while still showing the soft and vulnerable aspects of the female characters. Just because you've completed a bunch of impressive martial arts training and have an excellent combat record against zombies doesn't mean you're immune to feeling.

    The film introduces Elizabeth as a trained fighter, as are the rest of her sisters, who allegedly studied war techniques and training against zombies in China. Regency England is currently overrun by zombies, hence the need for the training. Every girl has at least one gun and at least one knife strapped to them, if not more.

I love that it presents them as able to handle themselves and it makes me feel more empowered as a woman. The fact that Elizabeth and Jane can both hold their own is very fun to watch; in particular, the scene where Mr. Collins (who is played by Matt freaking Smith!!!!), Elizabeth, Jane, Kitty, and Lydia encounter the carriage trap. I thought it was hysterical that Matt Smith was playing a cowardly character because I know him as Daemon Targaryen from HBO's House of the Dragon.

    Mr. Darcy is introduced as a Colonel, likened to the original novel, but in the 2016 film, he is a Colonel for England on the front lines of the zombie war. He is presented almost like a sheriff in the beginning when he goes to investigate the manor in Hertfordshire. I thought the element of the flies (as much as I DETEST bugs) to determine dead flesh was very cool. Darcy in this adaptation is very brooding; he is very much giving lone wolf vibes minus his friendship with Bingley. The dramatic fight scene with Wickham was his big display of masculine power in order to right the massive wrong he [Wickham] created with Lydia. 

    Darcy may be a Colonel and a titled aristocrat, but it is Elizabeth who comes out on top in this film. Not only does her wit shine with Austen's original writing, but her combat experience and strength are what leaves HER standing at the end of the battle, NOT HIM. Not to mention, Lydia, who has just been detained against her will for who knows how long, comes riding through the battlefield on a horse! Even Lady Catherine, who plays a minor role in comparison to Elizabeth and Darcy, is played by Lena Headey who is an absolute rock star. She is portrayed as the most infamous zombie slayer in the country! She even wears PANTS in Regency England which is very clever on the filmmaker's part.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) movie poster

    Traditional gender roles of the time period are still included, such as the original detail of the Longbourne estate being entailed to a man, the dance manners, the girls having to marry wealthy, etc., but I think Pride and Prejudice Zombies (2016) did an excellent job at representing how women can be delicate and deadly at the same time. A prime example of this is Jane--very sweet girl, very deadly with a gun. Elizabeth feels intense anger towards Darcy when he proposes and physically attacks him but cries over his perceived-to-be-fallen body. The magic of duality is a wonderful thing.💫

    All-in-all, I think this film is a lovely representation of just how far we have come in the romance genre since Austen's original publishing. It includes all of the good Austen writing and adds violence! And female rage! It implies that any man who wrongs a Bennet sister will be dealt with, and honestly, AS IT SHOULD.💅