By: Rachel Cuscianna

Murray Close/ Courtesy of Lionsgate

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a carefully constructed prequel to the fellow Hunger Games films which were released in the 2010s. Despite the 2-hour and 38-minute run-time, the movie went by quickly with plenty of action, romance, and drama. Set in the 10th annual Hunger Games, the story follows a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) who has been assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) from District 12: a singer with the strength to fight for her life. Coriolanus is determined for Lucy Gray to triumph over her  fellow contestants and prove the Capitol wrong – even if that means making vile decisions. 

Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth are the heart of this prequel. Zegler was able to showcase her beautiful singing ability through multiple songs scattered throughout the film. Even through the screen, you could hear the emotion in her voice. Blyth gave an excellent portrayal of the backstory of the malicious President Snow. Watching his character become this corrupt human being adds to fans’ appreciation for this franchise. Additionally, other standout scene-stealers were Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis. It was thrilling to watch every actor and actress become their unique character. 

When noting the production and costume design, the effect it had on the movie was remarkable. In the arena, the colour gray is the only visible tone as a way to symbolize the dullness and loss of life. However, Lucy Gray wears a colourful dress in the film’s first half to represent her remaining joy she had before entering the arena. Another fashionable character was Tigris Snow (Hunter Schafer); her mostly pink wardrobe stood out from the clothing of all the other characters. Overall, it came together beautifully and was definitely a memorable part of the film that deserves appreciation.  

All in all, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was an outstanding  prequel! It contained several parallels to scenes in the first Hunger Games films, making the viewing experience even more enjoyable.