If there's one thing that the early Harry Potter films were able to establish, it's a pervasive dread of Voldemort, a crippling fear that fills the consciousness of the wizarding world so much that the audience understands him as an immense threat even though they've only ever seen him as a weakened shell of his former self. So when people watch the graveyard scene at the end of Goblet of Fire, they understand exactly what's at stake here. It's a thoughtfully designed scene, moody and atmospheric, immediately recognizable as a place where terrible things happen. When Ralph Fiennes finally makes his appearance as Lord Voldemort, you almost can't believe that it's actually happening. Right off the bat, he fills the screen with so much menace and danger that even if you've read the books you don't see how Harry is going to be able to get out of there alive. It's a powerful, frightening scene that appropriately matches the terror inspired by someone who earned the moniker He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
