Editor’s note: This article may contain potential spoilers for “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes.”

Following in the footsteps of “The Hunger Games,” “The Hunger Games: Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes” shows the same amount of power and is just as engaging as its previous popular films. Running a whopping two hours and 38 minutes, the prequel offers a nice escape from the real world and fully captivates the audience even with its long running time. 

The film was produced by Francis Lawrence, who produced all the previous films. “The Hunger Games: Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes” was released on Nov. 17, 2023, around eight years after “The Hunger Games” series ended. 

The novel “The Hunger Games: Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes” was written by Suzanne Collins and was published on May 19, 2020. 

“The Hunger Games: Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes” stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis, Jason Schwartzman, and Hunter Schafer. Tom Blyth plays Coriolanus Snow, who is, at this particular time, living with the consequences of the previous war in Panem. In this film, viewers get to see the progression of Snow’s character, and Tom Blyth portrays this role very well.

The film starts with a very confused Coriolanus Snow and his cousin Tigris (Hunter Schafer), who has also been featured in the previous Hunger Games films. Snow is elected to be a mentor in the 10th Hunger Games, which is a prestigious opportunity for him to showcase his abilities and potentially regain some of his family’s lost status. 

The 10th Hunger Games marks the beginning of many Hunger Games traditions, including introducing mentors to the tributes and recruiting 24 of the Capitol’s best and brightest seniors. It takes place 64 years before the events of the original “Hunger Games” trilogy. 

The puzzling Lucy Gray Baird, played by Rachel Zegler, brings a new energy to the film that challenges everything Snow’s character believes in. Lucy Gray is the tribute that Snow is assigned to mentor in the 10th Hunger Games. This sparks a romantic plot point between the two characters and adds many layers to Snow’s character with his ability to love and manipulate. 

“I really enjoyed watching the two characters Snow and Lucy Gray’s chemistry on screen, it really made the movie a lot more enjoyable for me,” said Hills senior Samantha Fontana. 

The costumes and set were dazzling to see unravel throughout the film. The film was very visually striking and appealing, as well as the cinematography, which was fascinating to see unveiled. 

Throughout the film, the audience sees Snow fall deeply in love with Lucy Gray, and their relationship evolves throughout the 10th Hunger Games. During the games, Snow tries to help her survive as much as he can, whilst also trying to appear innocent to the Capitol. 

Although Lucy Gray ends up winning the games, it is unveiled by Dean Highbottom (Peter Dinklage) that Snow was cheating throughout the games, which leads to the Capitol banishing him to be a peacekeeper. A peacekeeper essentially maintains order in Panem by guarding events, and peacekeepers are also controlled by the Capitol. 

Dean, who is a part of the Capitol, has a huge distaste for Snow, so he does this to him in order to punish him. 

While Snow is doing his job, he is reunited with Lucy Gray, and their relationship starts up. Lucy Gray enjoys singing, and Snow watches her concerts often. 

Towards the end of the film, viewers start to see Snow’s real psychotic character. He started to become power-hungry and genuinely believed the Capitol was right for conducting the Hunger Games. 

Lucy Gray and Snow planned to run away together to escape the brutal world. However, Lucy Gray mysteriously disappears, and Snow still feels her lingering on. This then leads him to go even crazier, and as viewers see in “The Hunger Games films,” which take place after this movie, President Snow is the main contributor to all of the horrible things that occur throughout the film.

“Hunger Games: Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes” really gave Hunger Games fans an explanation for Snow’s madness, which is projected throughout all of the films. The movie also gave viewers a couple to obsess over, as well as new characters to love and appreciate.