"Review: The Hunger Games prequel 'Songbirds & Snakes' soars with an edgier tune"

"The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes," the new prequel film based on Suzanne Collins's novel, offers a grittier and more intimate realization of the dystopian realm of Panem. Set six decades before the previous movies, the film follows the moral descent of Coriolanus Snow, who eventually becomes Panem's autocratic ruler. While the film stumbles through a disorienting opening and lacks exposition for newcomers, it ultimately delivers a satisfying installment by leaning into its edgier themes and showcasing strong performances, particularly from Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler. The movie explores class oppression, sociopathic voyeurism, and the origins of the Hunger Games, while also providing fan service and haunting sequences.