Origin and release year: United States (2023 – The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes)

Starring: Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis, Jason Schwartzman, Kjell Brutscheidt, Josh Andrés Rivera, Ashley Liao, Donald Sutherland, Irene Böhm, Sofia Sanchez, Amélie Hoeferle, Isobel Jesper Jones, Butn Gornman

Director: Francis Lawrence

Screenwriters: Michael Lesslie, Michael Arndt (based on the book by Suzanne Collins)

Synopsis: Coriolanus Snow mentors and develops feelings for the female District 12 tribute during the 10th Hunger Games. (IMDb)

Full disclaimer: While this writer has read all of the other Hunger Games books, I have yet to read the prequel novel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Now that we have that out of the way… Firstly, for whatever reason, this Hunger Games film took some getting used to. Granted, we’re exploring a different part of the story universe since this is a prequel. However, it took some time to get re-familiar with the story world.

This aside, we met some interesting characters in the form of Lucy Gray (played by Rachel Zegler) and Coriolanus Snow (played by Tom Blyth). Their chemistry throughout the film is unorthodox but somehow managed to keep our attention as they navigate the brutal Hunger Games.

We need to talk about one thing that The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes does really well, which is fashion. The costume design was stunning on all fronts, from the uniforms to Lucy Gray’s mother’s dress to Dr. Volumnia Gual’s (played by Viola Davis) outfits. Everything in between was a beautiful visual touch, as well.

You can read about how this role as Dr. Volumnia Gual was one of Viola Davis’ most iconic roles in this article.

The cinematography and set design were also visually stunning. Well-executed shots and visual storytelling are always welcome in the eyes of this writer.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes also boasted a beautiful OST in the form of Lucy Gray’s vocals and songbird moments. The nod to the ‘Humming Tree’ song was also a pretty rendition that triggered some much-needed nostalgia that prequels released after the fact need.

Admittedly, whilst Rachel Zegler hard-carried the film (along with antagonist Viola Davis), Tom Blyth’s character was slightly underwhelming considering that he’s a protagonist and main character. He’s not an entirely likable character so that might’ve contributed to it but overall there was nothing ‘standout’ about his portrayal.

The loose ending did what cliffhangers are supposed to do. It made you curious about the next movie but also had that lingering unfulfilling feeling that will have you tap into the potential next movie (fingers crossed).

What did you think of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes? Let us know in the comments!