Fantastic Beasts Casts a Fantastic Spell

By: Lindsay Flanagan

I first read Harry Potter when I was nineteen years old. The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets were the only two novels out at the time so although I didn’t “grow up” with Harry, I was figuring out the adult thing in college, as a newlywed and in my first “real” job. The novels were a staple of much-needed escape from reality. Reading the books as an adult didn’t dissuade me from being an all-out nerd about it though. Therefore, when I found out Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them would be told from an adult wizard’s point-of-view, I was ecstatic because I would be able to see how wizards figure out that adult thing, too. I went in to the film with very high expectations (I didn’t see it on opening day—as an adult, I had to find a babysitter, coordinate with my husband’s schedule and wait for payday. Adulting…). Much to my glee, it did not disappoint! Yes, I’m saying this through my Rowling-devoted, heart-eyed lenses, but really—even with its small flaws, the film is…well, fantastic.

Fantastic Beasts opens with a series of front page newspapers, giving us a quick idea of the wizarding world’s status in 1926 America. The name “GRINDELWALD” is emblazoned across headlines along with the chilling phrase, “Is anyone safe?” Although this sends shivers of déjà vu down Potterheads’ spines, we know Voldemort hasn’t even been born yet so we sit back and enjoy watching awkward yet adorable Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) arrive in New York City carrying a small suitcase whose latches keep opening on their own. Newt is asked by the customs official if he is transporting any livestock and the audience is given a moment to smirk or give knowing nods as to what exactly Newt is bringing to America.

Newt is cleared to enter and although he is awed by the Big Apple, his plan is to be there only briefly. After traveling the world as a magizoologist, studying and documenting magical creatures, Newt is planning on returning one of the beasts back to its desert homeland of Arizona—a huge golden thunderbird. However, disaster ensues as several beasts escape Newt’s case. As he’s trying to catch a niffler (an adorable, platypus-type creature that loves jewels) in a bank, he leaves a creature’s egg on a bench and unsuspecting No-Maj (non-magic folk) Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) gets pulled into Newt’s adventures when he tries to return it. Spied by by Porpentina “Tina” Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), a former Auror for the Magical Congress of the United States of America, she shuffles Newt into a corner to ask him what exactly he is doing. Does he not realize what is currently happening in the city?

Unbeknownst to Newt, something has been wreaking havoc across New York. A dark force, believed by the Magical Congress to be either a beast or some sort of evil doing of Grindelwald’s, has been terrorizing No-Majs and wizards alike. The No-Maj authorities are at a loss, but luckily the wizarding community has Magical Defense Secretary Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) on their side. He seems to know some sort of magic is going awry and he also appears hell-bent on figuring it out.

The two plot lines collide when Tina drags Newt to the Magical Congress to voice her concerns about his beasts. Unfortunately for Tina—but luckily for Newt—President Seraphina Picquery (Carmen Ejogo) has no time or patience for Tina, whose status as former Auror is due to an incident with No-Maj and Second Salemer ringleader Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton) over the treatment of Mary Lou’s adoptive son, Credence (Ezra Miller).

The themes of prejudice and fear of the “other” are foundational in Rowling’s wizarding world and this film is no exception. The Second Salemers are a group of No-Majs who rally around the idea of ousting wizards and witches for who they really are “unnatural creatures” who have no place in this world just as was done in the 1600s in Salem, Massachusetts. Wizards, on the other hand, are tired of having to hide their powers and in some cases the effort to restrain the magic comes bursting out in untamable ways, namely the Obscurus. Obscurus is a sort of magical parasite that forms when a human with magical ability tries to suppress it. When the magic can no longer be contained, it explodes and the parasite take over the human’s body where they become known as Obscurials—very dangerous creatures. They rarely live past age ten and are not common in the wizarding world in the nineteenth century as they had been in years past—such as during the Salem Witch Trials when wizards and witches had to hide their powers for fear of persecution.

Adding to the theme of the fear of the “other,” the Magical Congress forbids relationships between wizards and NoMajs, which makes Newt and Jacob’s friendship that much more endearing and heartbreaking when they have to let it go. When Jacob gets caught up in Newt’s adventures, they know that soon his memory will have to be modified and that will have to go their separate ways. But for the time being, watching Jacob fumble around the wizarding world—feeding the beasts in Newt’s case, getting chased by an ovulating Erumpent and falling in love with Tina’s witch-sister, Queenie (Allison Sudol)—is one of the most magical parts of the film.

Another “friendship” in the film is the unlikely one of Auror Graves and Credence, although it is more of a craving for adult affection on Credence’s side and a need for information from Graves’s side. As Graves is trying to pin down the terror in the city, he’s also trying to locate someone—a young girl of magical ability and he’s counting on Credence to identify her. Something not to miss is when watching Graves that he carries the sign of the Deathly Hallows with him.

As the film continues to interweave the storylines, the dark force continues to march across the city and the No-Majs are pinning their hopes on the young Henry Shaw (Josh Cowdery) for Senator. Shaw promises to rid the city of the dark terror; however, he is violently killed by the very thing he says he will protect the citizens from—the dark force comes rushing in during his speech while breaking chandeliers, ripping through his campaign posters and finally tearing through Shaw as well. After Shaw’s death, President Picquery is more willing to listen to Tina when she tells her about Newt and his case. Tina takes his case (with him and Jacob inside) to the wizarding council and presents her evidence. This time Picquery, desperate for an answer to their problem, hands Newt over to Graves who questions him and bombs us with the name Albus Dumbledore. When asking Newt about his magical creatures, he also makes it a point to question Newt about being kicked out of Hogwarts and why one teacher defended him: “What makes Albus Dumbledore so fond of you?”

Graves hastily decides to sentence Newt and Tina to death, stating they are responsible for the terror in the city. With the help of some beasts, Jacob and Queenie it seems that our hero with Tina by his side (who tearfully apologizes to Newt for suspecting him and turning him in to the Congress) are able to escape the prison. Sadly, their freedom is short lived when they find themselves caught up in trying to contain the evil force that is now burning its way through the city. The terror is revealed to be not a young girl, but the boy who was already in Graves’ hand despite failing to see it. Credence’s suppressed magic is overtaking his body, fueled by Graves’s rejection of him when Graves no longer needed him. Although Newt and Tina try to save Credence, Graves interferes and the Magical Congress steps in and destroys the young boy. Graves is then revealed by Newt to be none other than Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), which is possibly the biggest surprise of the film and the part where I legitimately gasped out loud.

Thankfully, Newt and Tina are cleared of any crimes, but President Picquery requires that they modify Jacob’s memory and that Newt takes his case full of beasts out of New York. As Newt boards the ship back to England, he promises Tina that he’ll bring her his published book in person.

The film follows the tradition of Harry Potter in its majestic, magical and colorful adventures that are tinted by the dark and fearful undertones of prejudice and the want of power. I loved the film, although at times my fiction-editing brain cringed at the numerous plot lines wanting a tighter story. While the creatures are adorable, funny and, well, fantastic they play minimal roles in the overall story—except for perhaps the thunderbird who flies above the city, pouring a memory-modifying rain on the citizens. For devoted Potter fans, the film gives us what we crave—more of Rowling’s wizarding world so it almost doesn’t matter if the story wasn’t tight or the beast scenes were too long. It’s the wizarding world. It’s J.K. Rowling. So, with that said, I can’t wait for the next installment. Until then, mischief managed.