I fully expected this film to be slightly underwhelming but possibly a bit of fun and I never read any reviews on here or elsewhere before watching it. It was very funny, witty and thoroughly absorbing. The acting was excellent - Matt Smith, as others have said is wonderful - and the production superb. The peculiarities of the novel are self evident and, when the zombie influences are absent, you could think you are watching another excellent version of Pride and Prejudice. I have now read many reviews on here and am pleased to find that many reviewers have given the film praise. The low score is disappointing so I can only assume that many people have just written off the film either not having watched it or are just trying to be clever and above it all. Some reviews I've read are really quite pompous in their approach. If you have an open mind, an imagination and, preferably a liking for both Austen and zombies you will find this film irresistible. I have noticed that some reviewers say this is just a Victorian / zombie romance. It's Georgian, more precisely Regency and, although a romance, is a story of manners. Great stuff.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies should had been a fun mash up but it takes itself too seriously.

Burr Steers seems to be overawed by the Jane Austen novel itself and was maybe too respectful.

It is love in the picture pretty 19th century England. The Bennett sisters have learned martial arts in the far east because surrounding them are zombies.

Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) is fascinated by the humourless and disapproving Mr Darcy (Sam Reilly.) He is a dedicated zombie killer who uses flies to detect the undead.

Mr Wickham is one of the charmers of the Bennett sisters who has sinister intentions. He believes a breed of pig eating zombies and humans should be living side by side.

The action scenes are a bit of a disappointment. The tone is uncertain, it should had been bizarre and funny. Matt Smith gets it right as Reverend Collins, others are just too deadpan.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES is undoubtedly a bad idea for a movie, a blackly comic misfire that misses the mark time and time again. The story is to take the essence of the Jane Austen novel and add a zombie apocalypse to the mix. I thought this was a ludicrous idea when the book came out and now, having seen the film version, I can confirm that I was right.

The film's idea is to basically play out the plot of the original story but add zombies into the background of every scene. The zombie effects typically incorporate cheap-looking CGI while the action sequences are mishandled by the American director, who has no feel for his material.

The only decent thing about this film are the presence of a handful of supporting actors such as Charles Dance, Jack Huston, and Lena Headey who do their best to make the whole thing bearable, but their efforts are in vain. Whether it's the miscast lead - Lily James, one of those pretty faces with nothing behind it - or Sam Riley's weirdly gruff accent, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES is an embarrassment all round.