J.K. Rowling created one of the most important masterpieces of the 21st century when she wrote the Harry Potter series. Once a struggling English teacher, Rowling never dreamed she would get so rich after writing a mere storybook, which was little more than a story that she told to her children to keep them from getting bored. However, as time went by, she got the book published, and quickly rose to fame and wealth. The books are aimed towards mainly children and teenagers, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some really shocking moments in them. In fact, the movies seem to have done some serious justice to the book series when it comes to grabbing the most horrifying parts with ominous music and impeccable acting skills. Here are some of the most shocking scenes from the Harry Potter movies that took fans by surprise, even those who had previously read the books!
Lupin’s Creepy Werewolf Form
In the books, werewolves were depicted to be just what the name suggests – simple, albeit larger wolves. However, the Harry Potter movies directors and CGI experts got together and started a bit of fun. They went out of their way to make the transformation as horrifying as their imagination allowed, which was quite a bit. Lupin’s acting was flawless as he went from a decent, friendly human being to someone caught in a trance with his face frozen as he began shaking and twisting. He enlarged, and his clothes gave way to a skinny, crouched up, bony and extremely large monster that sent shivers down everyone’s spine. There wasn’t any fur on him like you’d imagine, but rather a grey skin tone and dead eyes staring down his victims from his large snout. This wasn’t the worst of it, of course, as Harry and his friend Hermione find themselves cornered behind a tree as this monstrosity tries to sniff them out, which was one of the most unnerving scenes in all the Harry Potter movies.
Umbridge’s Insane Punishments
For a children’s novel, Harry Potter sure does get extremely dark. During the fifth movie, we’re introduced to an odd and dislikable teacher from the ministry – Dolores Umbridge. However, what was once an annoying teacher to bear with quickly became an evil abomination as she began dishing out punishments which would injure students and mark them forever. Her special quills, which had been enchanted so they used up the blood of the person using them, also etched whatever they were writing on the back of their hand. We even see a scene later on in the movie where a young student had been subjected to the punishment, much to Harry’s disgust. Of course, this punishment pales in comparison to what occurs in the seventh book of the series, where some teachers enforce the Crutacious Curse on students in detention, which is pretty much the worst form of pain anyone could ever imagine.
Bathilda Bagshot’s Little Secret
It’s never really made clear what exactly happens during this scene, but without a shred of doubt, it’s one of the most intense and horrifying that the Harry Potter franchise has to offer. Harry tracks down Bathilda, from whom he needs some crucial information, but he’s fooled by Voldemort. Bathilda lures Harry to the upper floor where she reveals that she’s Nagini, Voldemort’s pet snake while Bathilda herself was dead all along. The only reason Harry could hear her was that she was talking in Parselmouth, which Harry understood without realizing it.
The entire setting for this scene is blood-curdling and enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine. In the book, Bathilda is supposedly carrying the snake inside her body, which is pretty nauseating, however, the movie offers a cleaner version where Bathilda evaporates, leaving Nagini behind. Matters are much worse as we realize that while Harry’s fighting for his life as he’s trying to escape Nagini, Voldemort is on his way to murder him as well, which gives the reader or viewer an overwhelming sense of dread during this confusing scene.
Overall, the entire Harry Potter series made history and will forever be iconic. From it’s excellent books and extremely well directed and filmed movies, they will always have a special place in our hearts and memories – even if they do scare us!
