I still remember when the book this movie is based on came out, it wasn’t the prequel story I was interested in. Yet, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins still managed to grab enough of my attention at the time, even if I now barely remember the book but that’s ok.
As for this adaptation, Francis Lawrence, who delivered excellent entries in this saga is back behind the camera. The film stars Tom Blyth (Billy the Kid) as young Coriolianus Snow and Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) as Lucy Gray Baird,  with Josh Andrés Rivera, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis rounding out the cast. 

Premise: Decades, before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow, is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from impoverished District 12. But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy Gray’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake.

Review: No matter how long it’s been, if you’ve read the source material, you’ll recognize how close to the book this movie is. It has all the familiar last names and places from the books and movies, sometimes subtly helping you make connections and get a deeper understanding of how Panem and the Games became what we’ve seen in The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay.

This three-part movie is very much about inceptions, Coriolanus Snow’s, the Games, and to some extent the rebellion. Snow is the main focus throughout, he’s an ambitious and hardworking young man desperately trying to claw his and his family’s way back up the social and political ladder, because even among the 1% in the Capitol, some of them struggle. These three parts are the different stages of Coriolanus’ transformation, the first shows his drive and desperation, we see an underdog willing to do what is asked of him to succeed. In the second, a man who is pushed by circumstances, yet somehow more willing to do whatever he needs to do emerges. And finally, the acceptance, the snake has shed its skin and has seized what he wanted.

The Games and the state of the Rebellion are sprinkled throughout but do not take center stage in this character-driven film. In fact, the games are rudimentary, almost boring, just a blood bath and this story is the origins of the Hunger Games we came to know with a rebellion that has a bigger presence in Panem, at least, they’re more visible.

As nuanced as the movie is, Blyth’s performance makes it easier to root for Snow. At times, it felt like Snow was just a reluctant villain with strong survival instincts, not the skimming young man trying to be good. Lucy Gray Baird is, as Zegler described, a performer asked to fight, unlike Katniss, who was a fighter asked to perform. Lucy Gray is sassier and more cunning, she has a lot in common with Snow, I’d even say they have the same potential but ultimately make different choices.

Davis’ character is quite a treat here, not only is her performance on par with the grandiose flair of the Capitol people we’ve met in the other movies, but there’s a hint of evil madness to it that’s just right. Her character’s bright red gloves make her hands look constantly drenched in blood, while the red from the top down of her white dress makes it look like blood has rained down on her. Schafer has a small but quite significant role that might only register to book readers or avid fans of the Hunger Games movies.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of the Serpent and the Songbird offers an intriguing dive into the origins of the tyranny that reigns over Panem. It’s a captivating, low-action but psychological prequel that deepens The Hunger Games saga. The visual aesthetics and the cast’s performances contribute to an immersive cinematic experience.

The movie premieres November 17th

If you’re interested in the source material, here’s my review of it, click on the image below: