A classic crawling with undead fun, “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”–a humorous parody of Jane Austen’s renowned “Pride and Prejudice” written by Seth Grahame-Smith–will keep you laughing and jumping in fear until the credits roll.

In 19th century England, we meet the lovely Bennet family at their humble Hertfordshire estate. These are dark, disgusting times. “Unmentionables,” or zombies, have been on the rise and are starving to get reacquainted with those they left behind after becoming infected. Mrs. Bennet desires rich, powerful marriages for her five daughters, while Mr. Bennet trains them day and night to fight off their hungry neighbors, forcing the sisters to live between the two extremes.

Unlike her siblings, second-oldest Elizabeth Bennet is beyond unexcited about finding a husband and stands out as the black sheep of her brood. As the zombies lurk closer and the fate of England is put on the line, Elizabeth is forced into the company of haughty, sarcastic zombie-hunter Colonel Darcy. Struggling for her life against this new plague, she discovers the power of her own perseverance in finding true love while still being a woman and warrior she can be proud of.

Set in the Victorian era, the film does an astounding job with incorporating modern sardonicism and humor into what is commonly seen as a straight-backed period. The true rudeness of Mr. Darcy and the pride in Elizabeth Bennet are clearly visible and make for a hilarious demonstration of foil. The actors–Sam Riley and Lily James, respectively–put on unique and strong performances of enemies turned allies and eventual something more. Even as zombies rain down upon them, they remain steadfast and in character, stopping to tease and mock as they slice through mobs of their enemies. The action scenes, including the creative sparring sessions shared between Elizabeth and her sisters, were well orchestrated and passionately conducted. The power of facial expression brings out the comedy of the film.

The effects utilized in the movie were also interesting, many instances demonstrating keen attention to detail. In the opening scene we see a clever use of a breed of flies by Mr. Darcy to identify decaying flesh, and their loud buzzing serves as a chilling reminder that this adaptation is not a strict comedy, but also a horror. Additionally, there are multiple instances where the scenery is seen through the eyes of an unmentionable, with the screen blurred and the sounds hollow and muffled, as if the viewer is underwater. The gore was realistic yet not over the top, and the sound effects were loud but appropriate, keeping you on your toes throughout your viewing experience.

Many avid readers will be ecstatic to hear that the movie does not stray too far from the “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” novel. The key climaxes are highlighted in a flattering and exciting manner, drawing us in with laughs and strong aspects from the original “Pride and Prejudice” story. Lines are directly quoted from the pages to ensure the accuracy of the picture.

For that same reason, however, it is helpful to have prior knowledge of the contents of “Pride and Prejudice” or “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” in order to better understand the characters. As someone who had never read the classic and only gotten a few chapters into the parody, it took a few minutes to comprehend who each character was as they transitioned from scene to scene. By the end of the film, however, the protagonists take their stand and remind viewers strongly of who they are.

*Spoiler* Finally we have the dreaded cliffhanger. As the zombie fiasco winds down and Elizabeth finds love, we believe that the characters will walk off into happily ever after. However, instead we see the antagonist riding toward their fortress on horseback, an army of rampaging undead at his heels. While this closing provided suspense and surprise, leaning toward a possible sequel, it could have been expanded. Instead of ending on the face of the villain, more focus could have been given to the protagonists’ reaction to the turn of events and their charge into the battle.

Overall, “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” was a charming, uproarious rebirth of a timeless classic. The acting was intelligent and powerful–the diversity of viewpoint between zombie and human and the blurry line this draws between humanity and becoming a monster, is unique, striking and makes for awesome effects. Though it helps to have prior knowledge, viewers quickly catch up on the basis of the plot and get caught up in all the action. This film is a must-see, and its preceding novel is a must-read.