The Harry Potter films are full of creepy, frightening, and not-so-pleasant moments. Let's recall the most striking examples of such episodes.

It has been 23 years since the release of the first book and 19 years since the premiere of the film "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," but the popularity of the saga about the boy who lived has not waned. Perhaps this is one of the few universes that retains the love of fans for years.

Exactly half of the films in the series were released in the fall, which is why most fans associate this time with Harry Potter. But what else do fans from the US and England associate with autumn? Of course, Halloween!

We invite you to recall the far from childish moments from the books and the scenes brought to the screen, which are distinguished by their cruelty and gloom. Many episodes, as we grow up, we see completely differently, so it's worth refreshing them in our memory. Prepare your Patronuses, and let's review the TOP-13 dark scenes from the Harry Potter films.

The Restricted Section

At the very beginning of the story about the wizard Harry Potter, played by Daniel Radcliffe, we enter the Restricted Section of the library. The books here contain powerful and dark magic. So touching them is definitely not recommended. Not to mention that you definitely shouldn't do it in the middle of the night.

Remember that terrible face that stretched out of the book as a warning? Just imagine what it would be like to get such a book in reality when going to the library after midnight!

Quirrell Removes His Turban

Even though book fans already knew about the entity hidden under the professor's turban, the scene in the film turned out to be truly creepy. The sinister voice, the slow process of removing the fabric, and the simply disgusting face underneath. Just imagine seeing such horror on the head of your teacher, who seemed perfectly normal to you, at the age of eleven.

Unicorn Blood

How can a fairy tale about wizards do without unicorns? Cute and beautiful creatures that all children love. In the saga about Harry Potter, they decided differently. Take it or leave it: the scene of the unicorn's appearance, which broke millions of little and young hearts. A dark creature that slides along the ground almost like a snake, and then sinks its fangs into the neck of the magical animal — this is definitely not a sight for children's eyes.

Mrs. Norris in the Chamber of Secrets

It was the petrification of Mrs. Norris that became the first hint of the awakening of sinister dark forces within the walls of Hogwarts. At the age of 12, seeing a cat hanging by its tail in the corridor and an inscription in blood is absolutely abnormal.

Dementors on the Hogwarts Express

You happily, with a slight anxiety in your eyes, head to the carriage to your beloved friends, and you are already on your way to the "safe" magical school. What could go wrong? In "The Prisoner of Azkaban," we learn about the existence of Dementors. These are blind creatures that feed on human, mostly positive, emotions. In special cases, if given the opportunity, a Dementor sucks out a person's soul.

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures on earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair" (c) Remus Lupin. The description itself implies a quiet horror. And in fact, any scene with Dementors could easily have ended up on this list, but the first encounter is the most memorable.

Werewolf Transformation

Credit must be given to the artists and other creators of this scene, because the transformation of a man into a werewolf turned out to be truly creepy. Bones, a bending spine, screams, night, fangs — all of this combined into a disgusting spectacle. And this, by the way, is your favorite teacher from school. This scene is also intensified by the mad eyes of Sirius, who perfectly understands how painful it is to transform during the full moon.

Quidditch World Cup

In "The Goblet of Fire," we encounter truly cruel and dark magic for the first time. In the books, the encounter with the Death Eaters seemed terrifying. The cinematography in this scene conveyed the feelings that cause us anxiety — madness, disorientation, rapidly changing frames, blazing fire, screams. And the Dark Mark of Voldemort soaring into the sky.

Nagini Attacks Arthur Weasley

We already know that the war has begun, and not all characters will survive. Moreover, it is worth considering that Joanne Rowling really wanted to kill Arthur Weasley in this scene. The effect is amplified by the fact that we see the moment of the attack through Harry's eyes, who in turn sees everything through Nagini's eyes. Now imagine that a person was bitten half to death by a huge snake, and the scene will immediately become even more terrible in our understanding.

Katie Bell and the Cursed Necklace

Trips to Hogsmeade are always associated with something warm, bright, and pleasant. But this cannot be said about the moment when your classmate "rose into the air, her arms outstretched... and there was something very strange, wrong, and eerie about it. Katie's eyes were closed, and her face was frozen without any expression." Then she screamed terribly from unbearable pain. The moment is shot like a horror film.

Inferi in the Half-Blood Prince

In one of the most colorfully dark Harry Potter films, we are introduced to other magical creatures — Inferi. And I don't think viewers were ready to see a real mountain of reanimated corpses. The scene resembles episodes from horror films — a cave, darkness, eerie silence, Harry reaches for the water and... someone's hand sharply grabs him.

Meeting with Bathilda Bagshot

This one can be left without any explanation. The corpse of an old woman was hidden and rotting in Godric's Hollow, while Nagini in her guise transformed from a human into a snake. All the scenes in the house were utterly terrifying.

"Dinner, Nagini"

During the Death Eaters' meeting at Malfoy Manor, Nagini devours Charity Burbage, who was killed by Voldemort beforehand. The horror effect is intensified by her body position, not entirely natural, her gaze, and the words addressed to Snape: "Severus, please...".

Bellatrix Tortures Hermione

This is perhaps the most unpleasant scene in the saga due to the realization of the reality of war and everything that is happening. And seeing a beloved character next to the insane Bellatrix (even her laughter scared me!) is not a pleasant sight. The torture tears us from the magical world into the real one. And I think it's good that this scene wasn't made completely terrible, leaving us only with Hermione's sobs and screams.

In the book, your imagination paints an even more frightening outcome. And if you remember that she was tortured with the Cruciatus Curse, for reference: "it is a curse of pain, terrible, unbearable pain. The pain was completely unbearable, the bones seemed about to melt, and the head would shatter into pieces."

Bonus: Soundtracks

Masters such as John Williams, Patrick Doyle, Nicholas Hooper, and Alexandre Desplat contributed to the creation of the soundtracks in the film. This video has compiled a playlist of the darkest scenes and melodies that played in the film.

Bonus: Latest Universe News

By mid-November, actor Tom Felton, who played the role of Draco Malfoy, plans to gather colleagues from the "Harry Potter" saga for an online meeting.

The actor also launched a challenge on TikTok, where you need to say his famous phrase, and he will choose the best options.

On Halloween, together with a big fan of the saga, Liam Payne (ex-soloist of One Direction), Tom Felton plans to join a live broadcast and appear before fans in the image of Draco Malfoy. A great idea, nothing to say!

Which episode of the Harry Potter saga seemed the most frightening and memorable to you?