Harry Potter is deathly creepy

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 1" is darker and more emotional than any previous film in the franchise.

The decision to split the seventh and final book was met with controversy, but director David Yates' dedication to sticking as true to the story as much as possible was the right call. There is no definitive start or finish to the movie with multiple antagonists and a mix of conflicts, but it works. Combining the films would have forced them to cut several scenes featured in part one that are integral to the plot.

The film is not for newcomers as it jumps right into the story, offering little background for the uninitiated. Watching the previous six films first is highly recommended.

"Deathly Hallows" is not the kid-friendly movie that was featured in the first Harry Potter film. Director David Yates was brought into the franchise at just the right time. From the end of the fourth novel the books gradually became more mature. Yates made the transition in mood seamless with his dark directorial style from the fifth movie through the latest release.

Viewers are presented with serious and emotional scenes ranging from multiple deaths to a scene early in the film where Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) erases her parents' memory of her existence.

"Deathly Hallows" is the first film in the franchise to never show Hogwarts, following Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger as they search for the remaining horcruxes.

"Harry, Hermione and Ron don't have a home anymore," Watson said in a press release. "They are always on the move and, worse, they are being hunted, so they don't know who to trust. But the stakes are high, so they have to be brave."

It takes place in many real-world locations. It also features new locations important to the story, like Godric's Hollow, where has was born and his parents were murdered.

"We're away from the magical environment of Hogwarts, which felt very safe even when the characters were in utter jeopardy," Yates said. "Suddenly Harry, Ron and Hermione are trying to survive out in the big, bad world, and it's a dangerous place. They feel isolated and alone and very vulnerable. It makes the adventure much edgier and more grownup, which really appealed to me, and to Dan, Rupert and Emma as well."

Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is featured more than in any previous films. His calm but intense discussions while planning how to kill Harry cast an eerie mood over the movie.

"Voldemort doesn't understand how this ‘child' has become his strongest adversary, but he does know he must be the one to kill Harry Potter," Yates said. "First of all, it was destined and, secondly, there is the sheer satisfaction of it after being thwarted so often. It's beyond personal at this point."

Despite the emphasis on Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange is the creepiest character in the film. Helena Bonham Carter plays the part with such convincing malice.

The movie continues to showcase the internal struggle of Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), who is not a good person necessarily, but is struggling to fully surrender to the side of evil.

"What's great about the story is the complexity of good versus evil," Radcliffe said. "It isn't always a clear split between the characters. Even Harry is obviously connected to Voldemort, so there are people we have always seen as evil who have good in them and good people who are seriously flawed."

The franchise continues to push for more box office records. It opened this weekend with more than $125 million domestically and $330 million total worldwide.

The 150 minutes fly by in "Deathly Hallows." Despite essentially being a teaser and lead-in for part two, it is the most intense and well-made Potter film to date. The lack of resolution leaves the viewer with a slight incomplete feeling, and the movie raises more questions than it does provide answers, but part two is less than eight months away.