Prequel lacks magic touch

when Newt finally shows passion and energy.

Faring better is Dan Fogler’s “muggle” Jacob and Katherine Waterston’s magical government agency employee Porpentina, and there is some nice cameo work from Jon Voight (Henry Shaw) and Ron Perlman (Gnarlack).

Much like the Potter series, though, it’s the villains who shine the most; Samantha Morton (Mary Lou), Colin Farrell (Percival Graves) and soon-to-be-Flash Ezra Miller (Credence) all glowering with gleeful menace and shiftiness and Johnny Depp (Grindelwald) promising much horror to come in future instalments.

The visuals are top notch too, from Newt’s Hermione-like bottomless suitcase to the mystical creatures that escape from the luggage, it’s a smorgasbord of cracking creations.

Twenties’ New York is painstakingly rendered and the costumes are fitting of the era but with nice nods to future Potter stylings.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given he directed the later Potters, Yates seems more comfortable presenting the darker shifts in tone and The Second Salemers are a chilling group that may give some young nippers nightmares.

The big and bold climax almost makes up for the prequel’s earlier shortcomings and there’s more than enough promise on display to suggest Rowling’s haste to signpost four further entries wasn’t misplaced.

Speculation suggests London and Paris will feature going forward; this and more of Depp’s Grindelwald and the introduction of a young Dumbledore mean this bumpy first part of the journey will likely be worth the trip.