“The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, serves as both a prequel and a sequel to “Snow White and the Huntsman.” The film delves into the backstory of Eric, the Huntsman, and explores the origins of the Ice Queen, Freya.

The story begins with the betrayal of Freya, the sister of the evil Queen Ravenna. After suffering a heartbreaking loss, Freya’s latent ice powers are awakened, transforming her into the formidable Ice Queen. She retreats to a distant northern kingdom, where she creates an icy fortress and raises an army of child soldiers, training them to become her Huntsmen, forbidding them from ever falling in love.

Eric and Sara, two of Freya’s most skilled Huntsmen, defy this rule and fall in love. When Freya discovers their secret, she uses her powers to create an illusion of Sara’s death, forcing Eric to believe he has lost her forever. Devastated, Eric leaves the kingdom and the story moves forward to the events after Ravenna’s defeat.

Eric is tasked with finding and destroying the Magic Mirror to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. During his quest, he encounters Sara, who is very much alive and harbors feelings of betrayal towards him, believing he abandoned her. Together, they face numerous challenges and enemies, including goblins and Freya’s forces.

As Eric and Sara’s love rekindles, they uncover the truth behind their separation and unite against Freya. The Ice Queen, driven by her own pain and Ravenna’s manipulations, eventually confronts her sister. The final battle reveals that Ravenna’s spirit has been trapped in the Magic Mirror, and she is resurrected. In the ensuing conflict, Freya realizes the depth of her sister’s evil and sacrifices herself to help Eric and Sara defeat Ravenna.

The film concludes with the destruction of the Magic Mirror, ending Ravenna’s reign of terror. Eric and Sara, having overcome their past and the manipulations of the two queens, look towards a hopeful future. “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” combines elements of fantasy, romance, and adventure, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and redemption.