Pride and Prejudice and Zombies leaves a lot to be excited about!
This post is obviously filled with spoilers. Beware!
In case you haven’t gotten read it yet, “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” is literally just that: “Pride and Prejudice” with zombies injected into the story. To some people’s hate and other’s love it uses much of the exact same prose as the Jane Austin original, with a healthy helping of gratuitous violence. Fun!
The mash-up novel has been in the works to become a film since 2009 when Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was first published. Finally, this past week in 2015, it all got real at San Diego’s Comic-Con during Screen Gem’s panel with the first trailer. It still hasn’t been released online but in extreme anticipation we’ve picked four scenes we are too excited to see IRL.
Scene: Elizabeth & Co. kill zombies at a ball
Zombies are no match for the Bennett sisters in this early scene from the book. Mirroring the original work, the sister’s head to a ball to meet rich, eligible suitors. Unlike the original though, zombies or “unmentionables” attack. People get eaten. It’s a whole big thing, until the sisters form the “pentagram of death.” In a star formation, while wielding daggers, they take down all of the zombies. Oh, and while this is happening love connections are made, naturally.
All those excited to see a “pentagram of death” come to life, please stand up!
Scene: Elizabeth tosses modesty aside.
Elizabeth is a badass. There’s no way around it. Another scene early on in the book finds her walking miles in zombie territory wearing what will surely be a flawless 19th century petticoat. Sure enough three unmentionables, at varying stages of decay, surprise her in the rain. As she fights, the book notes that she forgets modesty and tears them limb from limb with only her knife and swift martial arts skills. Oh and when they’re all dead, she lifts the last one’s head by the hair and lets out a battle cry.
Anyone who doesn’t want to see a 19th century feminist behead a zombie in the rain probably has to double-check his or her priorities.
Scene: Elizabeth spares an undead baby
While traveling the sisters encounter a zombie bridal party and it’s pretty gruesome. Kitty shoots the bride in the face and Lydia finishes her off with a final musket shot to the head. (Don’t worry, everyone sees the tragedy in the wasted wedding dress.) A wall of zombies follow the bride and the ladies continue to put them down effortlessly, until a long-dead female zombie shows up. To everyone’s dismay she is holding an undead infant. They’re all shocked except for Elizabeth, who is ready to kill them both against her sisters wishes. She even says, “A zombie infant no more alive than the musket I mean to silence it with.” Harsh. But at the last moment, Elizabeth decides to spare the child. The sisters silently agree to keep it a secret.
Anyone who wants to see how they make an infant undead and then never speak of it raise your hand!
Scene: Elizabeth strikes a pose.
Elizabeth spends much of both novels misunderstanding Mr. Darcy’s actions. In both these tensions lead to a fight, but in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Elizabeth vows to kill him. About one third of the way through the novel, Mr. Darcy comes to Elizabeth and tells her once again how much he admires her and still hopes to marry her. How does she react? Well first she strikes the crane pose and follows that up by kicking him the face. Then the two fight over a fire poker. Finally he takes the hint and walks out the door.
People who can’t wait to see Elizabeth fail to kill Mr. Darcy strike a crane pose!
Scene: Elizabeth fights ninjas and an old lady
The final battle of the book finds Elizabeth fighting Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who is more than fifty years her senior. Oh, and Lady Catherine brings ninjas to the fight. Oh, and her ninjas bring throwing stars. Knives, ninjas and nun chucks all make appearances. The final battle has far too much to look forward to.
Anyone who wants to see Elizabeth cut a pair of nun chucks in two with her Katana say, “I”!