Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is the penultimate instalment in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. The film covers the first half of the final book. David Yates had directed what many consider the darkest and most frightening Potter film yet. The world of magic has become an extremely dangerous place, largely because this is the first story that doesn’t take place at the Hogwarts school. The films are becoming increasingly adult, so young children might be disturbed by some of the scenes in this instalment. There’s a good deal of blood; Ron Weasley’s arm almost gets ripped off in one scene and there are moments of torture and blood-curdling parts involving Voldemort’s huge snake.
HP & The Deathly Hallows Pt 1 follows Harry as he hunts for evil Lord Voldemort, but he must first destroy the ‘horcruxes’, the receptacles that contain pieces of Voldemort’s soul which preserve his immortality. They are scattered far and wide, so the film resembles a wizards’ scavenger hunt through dark forests, wild moors, and barren mountainsides. They must also uncover the secret of the Deathly Hallows, a term which will not be understood until the end of the film. The tone of the film is also permeated by some rivalry and sexual tension between Harry, Ron, and Hermione, but the film only really comes to life when the trio is on their own in the forest or in an empty, eerie cafe in central London.
Stay tuned for the final instalment, coming later this year.
