The Huntsman: Winter's War 2016

As the darkness descended upon their secret union, Freya and the Duke’s love was met with brutal devastation. The Duke’s betrayal was only the beginning of a heart-wrenching tale, as Freya’s ice powers exacted a chilling revenge, encasing him in a statue that ultimately shattered into pieces. Her grief-stricken soul drove her to abandon the kingdom, seeking solace in the frigid north, where she took in dozens of orphaned children and trained them as her personal huntsmen, imposing one cruel condition: love would be forbidden.

Years passed, and among these battle-hardened youths, two exceptional fighters emerged: Eric, the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth), and Sara, the warrior (Jessica Chastain). Their secret romance blossomed, a flame that flickered in the shadows. One fateful night, they conspired to escape their icy confines, sharing a tender moment by the lake as they planned their future together. Sara gifted Eric a necklace bearing a medallion, a symbol of their devotion.

Their return to Freya’s castle was met with treachery, as her huntsmen ambushed the star-crossed lovers. With ease, Eric and Sara dispatched their attackers, but their happiness was short-lived. Freya conjured an imposing ice wall, separating them forever. Eric witnessed the brutal slaughter of Sara at the hands of Tull (Sope Dirisu), and she succumbed to her wounds against the frozen barrier, leaving him devastated.

Seven long years elapsed, during which Snow White claimed the throne, and Ravenna’s dark legacy was vanquished. Eric sought out King William (Sam Claflin) and the wise dwarves, Nion (Nick Frost) and Gryff (Rob Brydon), to retrieve the mystical Mirror, now housed in a sanctuary. Meanwhile, Freya surveilled their every move through an owl’s piercing gaze, her malevolent presence masked by a special talisman.

As Eric and his dwarven companions stumble upon a gruesome scene of soldiers cut down by their own weapons, they are suddenly confronted by Freya’s ruthless huntsmen at a nearby pub. The masked warriors recognize Eric as a traitor for defying Freya’s decree and launch a brutal attack on him and the dwarves outside. Just when all hope seems lost, a hooded figure bursts into the fray, dispatching the huntsmen with ease - none other than Sara, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and determination.

When Eric awakens from his ordeal, Sara’s piercing gaze accuses him of abandoning her all those years ago, revealing that Freya had orchestrated a deceitful ruse to separate them. The truth is slowly revealed: Eric witnessed Sara being killed, while Sara saw Eric flee - both mere illusions created by Freya to keep the star-crossed lovers apart forever. Despite this treachery, Eric’s love for Sara never wavered.

Sara joins forces with Eric and the dwarves on their perilous quest for the fabled Mirror. However, they soon find themselves ensnared in a trap laid by two cunning female dwarves, Bromwyn (Sheridan Smith) and Doreena (Alexandra Roach), designed to capture goblins instead of the intended quarry. The newcomers join the group, and an unexpected romance blossoms between Nion and Doreena, while Gryff and Bromwyn clash in a bitter feud.

As they navigate the treacherous forest, the companions stumble upon the sanctuary and the coveted Mirror, only to be ambushed by hordes of snarling horned goblins. Eric and Sara valiantly battle the beastly creatures, while the dwarves successfully claim the Mirror. Just as it seems Eric has fallen prey to the goblin horde, he emerges unscathed.

With the Mirror in hand, the group prepares to return to the kingdom, but they are suddenly cornered by Freya and her huntsmen in the heart of the forest. Sara’s true allegiance is revealed: she was sent by Freya to manipulate Eric into retrieving the Mirror. The ruthless queen freezes Nion and Doreena into statues, forcing Sara to confront her loyalty by killing Eric. With a heavy heart, Sara reluctantly shoots an arrow at Eric’s chest, striking the medallion he wears around his neck - a deliberate shot, never missed.

As Freya claims the Mirror and departs with Sara, Gryff and Bromwyn attempt to extract the arrow from Eric’s chest, only to discover Sara’s intentional target. Meanwhile, Eric employs stealthy rooftop acrobatics to infiltrate Freya’s castle, while Gryff and Bromwyn sneak into the kingdom to gather intelligence.

In a shocking twist, Freya consults the Magic Mirror, resurrecting Ravenna - a being who claims to exist in a liminal state, neither truly alive nor dead. The stage is set for an epic showdown as Eric and his allies prepare to take down Freya’s tyranny once and for all.

As Freya’s loyal huntsmen gather around her, Eric bursts into the grand hall, arrow at the ready, determined to put an end to the sisters’ corrupt reign. To his astonishment, Ravenna effortlessly defies Eric’s aim, snatching the arrow from mid-air with her cunning dark magic. Undeterred, Eric rallies the other huntsmen to stand by his side and Sara’s, united against the forces of corruption. But Ravenna retaliates with a devastating display of her malevolent powers, leaving Freya aghast.

In response, Freya unleashes a colossal wall of ice, a barrier between herself and the corrupted huntsmen. Eric and Sara begin their ascent, undaunted by the treacherous climb. Meanwhile, an eerie exchange unfolds between the sisters, as Ravenna reveals her true motivations: her quest for supremacy had begun when she consulted the enigmatic Magic Mirror, only to be told that Freya’s daughter would surpass her in beauty. Consumed by rage and despair, Freya brings down the ice wall, engaging in a fierce battle with her sister.

As Eric intervenes, determined to put an end to Ravenna’s malevolent reign, Freya exhausts her last reserves of ice magic, freezing the Mirror itself. With one final act of defiance, Eric hurls a hatchet at the frozen glass, shattering it and inadvertently transforming Ravenna into a glittering golden statue that crumbles to dust.

As Freya’s life force begins to wane, she imparts a poignant farewell to Eric and Sara: “How lucky you are.” The ice magic eventually wears off those who had been frozen, including Nion and Doreena. Jubilation erupts throughout the kingdom as its people rejoice in their newfound freedom. Eric and Sara, now freed from the shackles of duty, can finally succumb to their deepening love.

In a sweet symmetry, Nion and Doreena find themselves reunited, as do Gryff and Bromwyn, whose affection for each other had always simmered beneath the surface. Amidst this atmosphere of renewal and hope, a golden bird from the shattered Mirror soars above the castle, an ominous harbinger suggesting that Ravenna’s malevolent essence may not be fully vanquished.