Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Review

The Harry Potter juggernaut begins to roll to the end of its journey. After six previous films that increased in both quality and darkness of tone in what is approaching ten years, Harry’s final adventure has been split into two parts in order to wrap up all the loose ends without omitting any key plot details. A cast which comprises of a veritable who’s who of British acting talent (and Helena Bonham Carter) bring JK Rowling’s final instalment to the screen.

Whilst clearly a decision that allows the franchise to maximise its profits, splitting the final book in two also gives the film some much needed breathing space. For those who don’t know, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 sees Harry’s arch nemesis Voldemort on the cusp of assuming power over the wizarding world. Harry, Ron and Hermione’s mentor, Professor Dumbledore is dead, they can trust no one and they have embarked on the mother of all skives off school. The only way to stop Voldemort’s ascension to power is to locate and destroy the seven ‘Horcruxes’ – objects that contain a fragment of the antagonist’s soul. Two have been previously located and dealt with, but the location of the remaining five is a mystery.

The film opens strongly, with Hermione and Harry parting ways with their respective families for what looks certain to be the last time. An aerial escape and dogfight follows, as Harry and his allies flee his childhood home with Vodemort’s Death Eaters in hot pursuit. An infiltration of the compromised Ministry of Magic – complete with 1984-esque anti-muggle propaganda – occurs soon after and proves to be a highlight of the film; a mixture of comedy, suspense, danger, intrigue and, as always, sumptuous production design.

The film’s momentum slows down for a while after this, as the trio winds up in a forest and spend a good chunk of the film simply pondering what to do next. Younger fans may get restless during this lengthy section, but I enjoyed the interactions between the heroes as their relationships become ever more fraught and tense. The three actors, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have all impressed and convinced in their roles, which they have all played with increased depth and subtlety over time. There are also some gorgeously filmed locations during this extended sequence and the trio’s feelings of aimlessness and isolation is well captured.

The film demands quite a lot of its viewers: old characters return frequently and you will be expected to remember who did what and why it was significant on several occasions; those not wholly versed in Potter lore may find themselves out of their depth at times. Ultimately the film is a victim of its structure – despite the added room to manoeuvre and its already bloated two and a half hour plus run time, like many penultimate chapters in film franchises, it cannot help but feel incomplete. However, it is a testament to the appeal of the story, characters and world that director David Yates has brought to screen that we are left wanting more by the final reel. Part 2 cannot arrive soon enough.