Story
The Huntsman: Winter’s War is a prequel to the 2012 film Snow White and the Huntsman. Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) uses evil magic to kill the king and steal his kingdom which she then rules with her sister Freya (Emily Blunt). Unlike Ravenna, Freya has yet to show any sign of magical talent. When a personal tragedy results in Freya discovering her magical ability, she is transformed into the Ice Queen. She then leaves her sister’s kingdom and builds her own kingdom in the north.
Freya invades the lands surrounding her kingdom, killing the enemy armies and capturing the children who she trains as her huntsmen. Two of the young captives are Eric and Sara who soon become Freya’s best huntsmen. Seven years pass and Eric (Chris Hemsworth) and Sara (Jessica Chastain) are now adults. They have fallen in love with each other, which is against the Queen’s laws. Eric and Sara decide to escape the Ice Queen’s rule and live their own lives, but the Ice Queen learn of their plans to escape. She then uses her magic to fool each of them into thinking the other was lost.
More years pass and we learn that Snow White has defeated Ravenna and that the magic mirror has been lost. When the Ice Queen learns this, she sends her own huntsmen to find the magic mirror and bring it to her. Meanwhile, Eric has been ordered by the king to find the mirror before it can fall into the wrong hands.
Fairy tales; magic; the murder of a child; the kidnapping of children; training children as soldiers
Themes
Fairy tales; magic; the murder of a child; the kidnapping of children; training children as soldiers
Violence
The Huntsman: Winter’s War contains fantasy action violence, violence enacted against children (including the murder of an infant), violence enacted by children against children, and some blood and gore (although very few realistic consequences). For example:
Sexual references
The Huntsman: Winter’s War contains some sexual references. For example:
- There is a reference to a woman carrying another man’s child.
- A dwarf says something unheard to a woman, who promptly pours a mug of ale over his head. We hear the dwarf say ‘I’ll take that as a no.’
- A male dwarf says female dwarves are ‘horrible’, and that babies are made by accident.
- A woman tells a man that he can take off his shirt and prance around with her.
- A woman refers to a couple being in love, saying that they reek of it.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
The Huntsman: Winter’s War shows some characters drinking alcohol and has references to drinking too much.
Nudity and sexual activity
The Huntsman: Winter’s War has some nudity and sexual activity. For example:
- We see a man and woman naked in a pool of water and they kiss passionately. The woman places a woven necklace around the man’s neck and when he asks her what she is doing she replies ‘Marrying you.’ This is followed by more passionate kissing.
- In several scenes we see women wearing low cut tops that reveal some cleavage and bare backs and shoulders.
Product placement
None of concern
Coarse language
The Huntsman: Winter’s war contains some coarse language and insults.
Ideas to discuss with your children
The Huntsman: Winter’s war is an action fantasy which is likely to appeal to fans of Snow White and the Huntsman. The film is likely to appeal to teenagers and even tweens but has many violent and scary scenes, and confronting themes which include children as soldiers and children being kidnapped and killed. It is definitely not recommended for viewers under 13, with parental guidance recommended for 13 to 15 year olds.
The main message from this movie is that love makes us stronger and can conquer all.
Parents may wish to discuss the way in which the film omits real life consequences resulting from the violent acts depicted in the film. Minimal blood, gore and injuries are depicted. Does this glamorise violence and give viewers a false understanding of the real life consequences of violent acts?