Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince

REVIEW:

Spoilers ahead.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince wastes no time plunging us back into darkness, quite literally and narratively. It opens with flickering fragments from the tragic end of Order of the Phoenix, a chaotic montage of devastation that immediately rekindles the sense of loss and urgency. The tone is set: this isn’t a magical adventure anymore, it’s a war story quietly building in the shadows. The world is no longer safe — not even for wizards. This entry marks a shift not just in story but in atmosphere, and director David Yates ensures that transition is felt in every frame.

Visually, this is the most striking film in the series so far. The cinematography, led by Bruno Delbonnel, paints a bleak canvas of greys, browns, and desaturated blues, reflecting the emotional weight of the narrative. It feels as if the light has been drained from Hogwarts itself. The castle, once a sanctuary full of charm and bustling with youthful energy, now seems hollow, underpopulated, and colder — a deliberate design choice, mirroring the encroaching dread of the wizarding world’s collapse. The whimsical details of earlier films are dialled down to make space for something far more sinister.

This story gives Tom Felton his moment to truly shine. As Draco Malfoy is dragged into the heart of the Dark Lord’s plans, Felton plays the role with a quiet intensity, constantly teetering on the edge of a breakdown. You can see the fear living in his eyes, the weight of expectations slowly consuming him. His character’s arc adds a tragic layer to what was previously just a schoolyard bully — showing how Voldemort corrupts even the reluctant. It’s a subtle but essential performance that gives Draco dimension he’s never had before.

Romance also starts to nudge its way to the forefront here. The foundations are laid for future relationships — some blossoming, others awkwardly stumbling into place. It can feel slightly jarring against the backdrop of looming war, but it’s reflective of real life — even in dark times, people fall in love. These moments add warmth to an otherwise cold film, and although some pairings might feel a bit rushed, it’s clear the characters are maturing and their emotional lives are taking centre stage.

Maggie Smith once again proves that less is more. Professor McGonagall doesn’t dominate screen time, but every moment she’s present is gold. Her heartfelt concern for the students, her no-nonsense attitude, and the way she delivers her lines with a dry wit never fails to bring a smile. Even when the world is falling apart around them, she finds a way to inject warmth and humour, never letting the story become completely suffocating.

That said, the film isn’t without flaws. The choice to sideline beloved characters like Hagrid feels unjustified, especially as his connection to the trio has been foundational from the very beginning. Here, and increasingly in the following films, he becomes almost an afterthought — a disappointing downgrade for someone once seen as family. More puzzling is the confusing timeline regarding Dumbledore and the Horcruxes. At this point, he hasn’t yet confirmed their existence, and yet somehow, he not only finds and destroys the ring but also tracks down the cave where another Horcrux is hidden. We see Riddle wearing the ring in the memory with Slughorn, but nothing ever clarifies how Dumbledore makes the leap from suspicion to certainty. A simple line of dialogue could have helped connect the dots.

The film reaches its emotional peak during the bathroom duel, when Harry and Draco finally clash in a confrontation that goes too far. After years of animosity and escalating tension, they don’t hold back — and the fight quickly shifts from petty rivalry to a genuine threat. There’s no rage, just a terrifying escalation of intent to harm, especially when Harry casts the Sectumsempra curse and leaves Draco bleeding on the floor. It’s a moment that reminds us how dangerous magic — and these young wizards — can be. Moments later, Snape’s betrayal atop the Astronomy Tower delivers the most gut-wrenching blow of all. My heart genuinely sank as Dumbledore fell, and the silence that followed made the loss all the more unbearable.

And finally, there’s the titular mystery — the Half-Blood Prince. The reveal that Snape authored the potions book comes almost as an afterthought, devoid of meaning or explanation. What is the relevance of this name? Why should it matter to Harry or to us? If it plays a deeper role in the books, the film doesn’t seem concerned with it. It feels like an abandoned subplot — a forgotten breadcrumb in a story full of more pressing concerns. Still, despite this narrative misstep, The Half-Blood Prince stands as one of the most visually evocative and emotionally turbulent entries in the saga, paving the way for the darkness to come.