6 'Harry Potter' Darkest Scenes That Prove It Has Never Been a Children's Story
Although it's unlikely you'll find a more child-friendly epic fantasy saga than Harry Potter, the movies about the Boy Who Lived haven't shied away from truly creepy scenes since the first movie. Here are some of the scariest ones.
Twenty-four years have passed since the premiere of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, yet the popularity of the saga about the Boy Who Lived has not faded.
Each subsequent movie became darker, but even the first installments had truly creepy scenes that frightened children and adults alike.
Prepare your Patronuses and join us as we revisit some of the darker scenes from the Harry Potter movies.
1. A Dark Being Feisting on a Unicorn – 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'
No fairy tale about wizards would be complete without unicorns. They are cute, graceful creatures that all children love. However, in the Harry Potter saga, the unicorn's appearance turned out to be rather sinister.
Seeing a dark creature glide along the ground like a snake and bite into the neck of a unicorn is definitely not a sight for children's eyes.
2. Mrs. Norris Petrified by the Basilisk – 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'
Mrs. Norris's petrification was the first sign that dark forces had awakened within the walls of Hogwarts. For a 12-year-old, seeing a cat hanging by its tail in the hallway with an inscription made of blood is not normal.
3. Harry and Dudley's Encounter with a Dementor – 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'
We encountered the Dementors in The Prisoner of Azkaban, but it wasn't until The Order of the Phoenix that Harry and Dudley came close to dying because of them.
The most terrifying aspect of this situation is not that Harry and Dudley encounter the Dementors, but that they appear in an unexpected place: the usually tranquil and even boring Little Whinging, where nothing dangerous has ever happened before.
Harry Potter is full of creepy creatures that can take your life in an instant, but losing your soul is much worse.
4. Sirius Black's Death – 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'
One of the most tragic moments in the Harry Potter franchise is the death of Sirius Black, Harry's beloved godfather.
His demise seemed preordained early in the movie when it became clear that he had no intention of staying in Grimmauld Place while his friends risked their lives battling the Dark Lord.
Yet, the moment the curse hits Sirius is still heartbreaking. It's even more painful to watch Harry, who, after years of loneliness, finally found a real family, only to lose it so quickly.
5. Nagini Disguising Herself as Bathilda Bagshot – 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1'
While searching for the Horcruxes, Harry and Hermione decided to look into Godric's Hollow. That's where fake Bathilda Bagshot found them.
It seems strange that they didn't sense anything unusual about Bathilda's house, despite the disgusting smell, her odd state, and her reluctance to speak in Hermione's presence.
After Harry believed Bathilda had led him to the Sword of Gryffindor, Nagini revealed herself and attacked, causing Harry to lose his wand. And the fact that the poor old lady's body was in the house the whole time makes this one of the creepiest scenes in the franchise.
6. Severus Snape's Pensieve Memories – 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2'
Despite its feigned naivety and simplicity, the Harry Potter franchise has always found ways to hurt its fans. The scene of Lily's death from Severus Snape's memories is a perfect example of this.
Snape's sobbing over Lily's body is the main climax of the final movie, overshadowing even the fall of the Dark Lord.
