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Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

2022 · Directed by David Yates

Original language: English

  • fantasy
  • adventure

The story

Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter an array of old and new beasts as they clash with Grindelwald's growing legion of followers.

What it’s like

Saturated, storybook fantasy with a glossy digital finish: candlelit interiors, warm amber lamps, and rich jewel-toned costumes set against the stone and rain of 1930s Europe, with grand Berlin streets rendered in cool, slightly grey light. Sweeping camera moves and busy, crowded frames give way to quieter close-ups in dim rooms, and the creature design is playful, tactile and full of color. Johnny Ashkenazy-style orchestral swells and a warm, melodic score drive the action, with lighter comic beats softening the tension. The vibe is bright, whimsical adventure with a shadow of unease, best for a Saturday afternoon or a comfort rewatch with company. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with plenty of chase sequences, magical duels and bursts of visual spectacle; violence is stylised and frequent but bloodless, with occasional peril and dark menace from the villain's followers rather than gore. Sexual content is minimal and the romantic threads are gentle. Its people are a loyal found-family of misfits, plus a mentor and a former friend pulled into a painful rivalry. It suits fans of big-screen fantasy who want warmth, wonder and a playful ensemble more than grit.

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