In 2015, the final movie in the original Hunger Games series was released, and finally, eight years later, the popular dystopian series is back on the big screen! The film The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was released on November 17, 2023, drawing crowds to theaters to see the screen adaptation of the original trilogy’s prequel, released in 2020.

The film, based on the novel, follows the story of an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, 64 years before the original trilogy. It explores an earlier phase of the Hunger Games and how they became the games viewers saw in the later series, as well as depicting Coriolanus’ development as a character to become the villain of the later novels.

As it is a prequel to the trilogy, it’s recommended that viewers watch or read the original trilogy before viewing the prequel. This allows for a heightened appreciation of the complex story through many little “easter eggs”, or connections to the later novels. However, the film is sufficiently self-contained in order to be understandable and exciting to any viewer, with or without in-depth prior knowledge. 

It is rated PG-13, containing significant violence and many disturbing themes, which younger or more sensitive viewers should consider. Those with a fear of snakes should be forewarned that, as in the name, they appear several times and are not always friendly. 

I had the opportunity to see the film the day after it was released, and I was blown away. I wouldn’t consider myself particularly knowledgeable about cinematography, but you shouldn’t dismiss my opinion on this film, because I’m an avid reader with a strong love for these books and how the movies in this series compare and contrast.

Similar to the first Hunger Games movies, the film follows the events of the book quite closely, with very close attention paid to details in the settings, costumes, and characters. This means that this movie will likely not be as controversial of an adaptation when compared to other similar book-to-screen modifications in other franchises. 

However, in comparison to The Hunger Games, the first film in the series, the cinematography was entirely different and provided the new film with a unique and hauntingly emotional feel that separates it from the rest of the series. 

The movie is an exemplary modern film filled with emotion and suspense, with complex and fascinating characters, as portrayed by the talented cast. For example, actor Tom Blyth, who portrays Coriolanus Snow, does an excellent job conveying the layers to a complex character that is the protagonist of this film but eventually becomes the antagonist of the later books. Similar to other films surrounding the backstory of a well-known villain like Cruella, Maleficent, or Joker, the actors are faced with the complexity of earning audiences’ sympathy, while they are already familiar with the long-hated villains, creating fascinating and unique stories. 

The design of the film, from the vibrant costumes to the elaborate sets, immerses viewers in the world of Panem. A standout detail was the use of light in the film, the contrast between dark shadows and terrifying content with bright light and lavish coloring emphasizing the paradox of the Hunger Games both being horrific and also a show for entertainment. 

The sound was also a highlight of the movie, with original music both from popular artists like Olivia Rodrigo’s “Can’t Catch Me Now” to music adapted from lyrics in the novel such as “The Hanging Tree” and “Nothing You Can Take From Me”. Rachel Zegler, starring as Lucy Gray in the film, has an incredibly powerful voice that brought life to the unique music composed for the film. The music has great significance to the plot and characters, as we can see in the title, and it really brought the story to life, immersing the audience in their world. 

I would highly recommend seeing this movie before it leaves theaters, because viewing it on the big screen had a major impact on the experience, from being able to feel the power of music to being immersed in the intensity of suspenseful and terrifying moments. If you like the dystopian genre, it doesn’t get much better than this movie, and it’s in theaters now!