The widely anticipated and hugely successful Harry Potter story picked up again this holiday season with Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

When we last left our wizard heroes, Harry Potter, the Chosen One (who must defeat the evil Dark Lord Voldemort) and his two trusty best friends, Ron and Hermione, they had learned the only way to kill Voldemort was to destroy his remaining Horcruxes, the pieces of his soul hidden in objects. In this film, away from their magical school of Hogwarts, the trio sets out alone against, and on the run from, the growing strength of Voldemort and his Death Eaters to find these Horcruxes.

Deathly Hallows Part 1 follows the book very closely, more so than most of the previous films. It also is much easier to understand and doesn’t feel rushed whatsoever.

The film is a mix of all genres of movies: love, comedy, thrill, and tragedy, but is no doubt the darkest and most frightening of any of the previous Potter films. There were several times I nearly jumped out of my seat, and my mother wasn’t any less jumpy, especially when Voldemort’s snake, Nagini, sprang out of nowhere, fangs open, straight at the screen.

Not a lot of plot is resolved in Part 1 and only one of the remaining Horcruxes is located, but the majority of the movie is a huge set-up for the final Harry Potter film, and it holds important information for what they will have to do in the next movie. Part 2 will certainly be much more action-packed with the final battle in it.

What did happen in Part 1 though was character development and much of it is seen with the growing relationship between Hermione and Ron, and Ron’s insecurities over Harry’s importance.

The acting was consistently good all around, and Helena Bohmam Carter as the deranged and cruel Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange, particularly stood out.

Overall, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 was unquestionably worth seeing for any fans of the series. They undoubtedly will be pleased, but so will those who are only somewhat familiar with the series.

Aran Kirschenmann, 15, is a contributing writer for the Bellevue Reporter and a freshman at The International School in Bellevue.