With sequels and prequels, of which Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is both, being the second of five prequels to the Harry Potter octet, you either have to have a photographic memory, reacquaint yourself with the originals or the dot to dots of who’s who, where, why and how have to be succinct.

If any or all three are undertaken, then the strands of the plot will lace themselves into a perfect bow. If not, and if you add to the mix a bloated list of protagonists each paving their own road, then what you end up with is a spaghetti junction of confusion which is neither an aesthetically pleasing nor enjoyable ride.

Sadly, after an arresting opening during which the evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) rediscovers his silver tongue and escapes imprisonment from the bowels of the American Ministry of Magic; and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), protege of the good wizard Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law), reignites his love interest in Leta Lestrange (Zoë Kravitz) before whizzing off to annul the threat of the resurrected Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller); the various plot strands shoot out in all directions like a psychedelic spiderweb resulting in a “To be continued…” ending which is one of the biggest damp squibs in recent years.

Furthermore, given that the budget is estimated to be in the region of $200m, there are few jaw-dropping set-pieces or spectacular special effects, just a series of intricately created and endearing creatures (including a carnaptious Kelpie strewn with seaweed) whose flights of fancy are so trippy that you would be mistaken for thinking that the author was none other than Jakey Howling.

Fans of Harry Potter and the fantasy genre will no doubt lap it up, particularly the inclusive moral at the heart of the film as voiced by Redmayne: there are no strange creatures, only blinkered people. And, in fairness, the quality of the casting and the performances is of such a high standard that regular cinemagoers will lean more towards “Fantastic” than “Crimes”. (Thumbs up to Scottish actor Kevin Guthrie who in reprising his role as Abernathy proves that his star is continuing to rise.) But a wizard in the shape of a script editor is needed to tighten the plot and sprinkle a few more handfuls of fairy dust. More than franchise-bound that spellbinding.

Director: David Yates
Writers: J.K. Rowling (based upon characters created by)
Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler
Peter Callaghan
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