‘Harry Potter’ Meets Scariest Foe Yet In Cuter, Younger Half-Blood Conjurer

When last we left Harry Potter, the post-pubescent sorceror was learning to control a host of newly acquired wand-wielding tricks, while grappling with the stunning news that trusted headmaster Dumbledore enjoyed the company of fellow wizards. After the blustery torment of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, star Daniel Radcliffe hinted that even darker things were to come, noting Half-Blood Prince would incorporate “a fair amount of sexual energy and drug parallels. We have a couple of Trainspotting moments.” Now comes our first glimpse of the movie’s trailer:
The series appears to have abandoned all pretense of being anything less than an adolescent conjurers’ dirge, eight shades darker than the previous murky installment. (Deathly Hallows we imagine will be nothing but a black screen with occasional flashes of finger-tip-produced lightning bolts.) We see no Trainspotting touches like heroin-flavored jelly beans or soiled invisibility cloaks, resulting in mysterious floating poop stains. Rather, we get that old scary-movie standby—a creepy kid with pyrokinetic powers and mental command over an army of snakes. Watch out behind you, Harry! Flaming cobra!

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