The Reel Review
Set 64 years prior to him becoming the despicable dictator of Panem in the popular Hunger Games saga, a young Coriolanus Snow becomes the mentor of a tribute from District 12 during the 10th annual fight-to-the-death competition – the first to be televised live. Tom Blyth (Billy the Kid) and Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) star in this fantasy action/adventure prequel.
Even with returning director Francis Lawrence (the latter three films in The Hunger Games franchise, Red Sparrow) and a big name supporting cast – Viola Davis as the campy villain, Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), and Hunter Schafer (Euphoria) – this more basic, earlier version of the games is little more than a rehashing of the now very familiar story. Zegler’s singing is great, but neither she nor her terrible southern accent are very convincing.
The film’s story, however, is clever in its first two acts, as it shows how a calculating Snow (well played by Blyth) is protecting his potential love interest and meal ticket to a better life. It is much less interesting in the overly long third act, which limps to an unsatisfying ending that is more about quickly setting up the next film than compelling storytelling.
REEL FACTS
• Rachel Zegler sang all of her songs live during filming.
• Julliard-educated Tom Blyth plays the lead in the MGM+ series Billy the Kid.
• Both Rachel Zegler and Josh Andrés Rivera, who are dating in real life, appeared in West Side Story.
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