Five years after the final Harry Potter film premiered, a new film set in the Potter universe has crept, crawled, scampered and flown onto the screen. “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” premiered on Nov. 18, starring Eddie Redmayne, directed by David Yates and written by J. K. Rowling.
This prequel to the eight Harry Potter films, while suffering from inconsistent pacing and narrative issues, is a magical suitcase filled with phenomenal characters, world-building and themes that will delight both avid fans and average moviegoers to unpack. It also happens to be the best movie set in the wizarding world so far.
In the 1920s, British wizard Newt Scamander, played by Redmayne, arrives in New York City with a suitcase full of magical creatures. But, as often happens during international travel, he loses his luggage. With the help, and sometimes interference, of non-wizard canning factory employee Jacob, magical congress employee Tina and her coffee-fetching sister Queenie, Newt searches for his creatures as they wreak havoc on the streets. Unfortunately for Newt, the beasts that escaped his case are far less dangerous than the dark forces and individuals already loose in New York City.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is aesthetically dazzling. The magical effects, the different locations in the city and the design of the beasts are all wonderfully and fascinatingly executed. Standout designs include a wintry Central Park, the leafy creature Pickett and a smoky, destructive force called an Obscurus. The visual innovation alone sets this film apart.
The performances of the cast are similarly unique. Redmayne’s Newt is singularly quirky. From the character’s awkward walk and his inability to look other characters in the eye to his relationship with his creatures, Redmayne has created a cinematic peculiarity who can still carry an emotional scene with believability.
Katherine Waterson as Tina also shows emotional prowess while displaying a strength of character and drive. Alison Sudol’s Queenie is a dynamite and fun onscreen presence, while Dan Fogler as Jacob steals every shot with his warmth and heart, and he provides realistic comic relief.
Despite the lightheartedness these characters bring to the film, “Fantastic Beasts…” is the darkest film in the wizarding universe. The psychological forces at play among the Second Salemers, an anti-wizard group that relies heavily upon the assistance of children to spread their message, as well as the wizard congress, brings up more complex political and social themes than previous films.
Additionally, the methods employed by the wizard congress are severe and ruthless. Colin Farrell’s character Graves and Ezra Miller’s character Credence, as well as other characters among the wizard congress and the Second Salemers, herald a refreshing moral and psychological darkness new to the Harry Potter film franchise.
Fortunately, the core characters, although often played for laughs, are given enough moments of levity to somewhat bridge the gap between the darker and lighter sections of the film. However, viewers will still experience whiplash. For too much of the film, the lighter storylines and the heavier storylines are disconnected, leading to a final showdown that will leave the audience wondering how all of these characters and their motivations relate to each other.
The lack of developed backstories, which will certainly be explored in the four sequels, causes even avid fans to question the characters’ places in the larger story and detracts from the mostly-neat ending of “Fantastic Beasts.” Pacing also could have been steadier. Long segments, like the exploration of Newt’s case, drag the film’s progress.
Despite these issues, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” resurrects Rowling’s wizarding phenomenon as a film made for the screen, not for fans of a book. While the story is confusing at times and viewers who are unfamiliar with the book will not understand the narrative significance of certain name-drops, the characters and visuals carry the heart of the film. Though strange creatures abound, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is far from beastly.
