As November 21 edges ever closer, the folks behind the publicity for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 are releasing more and more morsels of footage and posters to entice fans of the tale of Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence) and her allies and antagonists. For those viewers of the previous films not familiar with the trilogy of books by author Suzanne Collins, this newest trailer released today serves to reinforce that the situation is about to become that much more dire for the rebellion against the Capitol and President Snow’s iron grip on the people of the districts.
What stood out most to me in the trailer in detail that went into creating the combat scenes. If viewers of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire were left unconvinced in the slightest that this next film would be able to bring the oppressive feeling of war and loss necessary to properly tell Katniss’ story, this trailer should serve to remove all doubt. The grime and oppression that seems to mar everyone—it’s even jarring to see Effie (Elizabeth Banks) look so gray—help to signal to audiences that this will not be a pristine, shiny war, but one where people are damaged, both in and out. The darkest part of the two-minute trailer, however, had to be the appearance of Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), decked out all in white, a puppet of the Capitol used in service to unnerve Katniss. Chilling.
It’s just over two months until The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 hits theaters. We can wait that long, right?