In the time of Counter-Reformation, a miller and his son come under investigation by a priest of the Inquisition, when rumors spread that their prosperity comes from working with the Devil.
The Devil's Trap is a film directed by František Vlá?il, based on a novel by Alfréd Technik, adapted by František A. Dvorák and Miloš Kratochvíl. It was the first of three historical dramas that Vlá?il made during the Czech New Wave (technically he isn't really a part of the New Wave, however these films were made during the same era of artistic freedom), preceding his more well known Marketa Lazarová (1967) and Valley of the Bees (1968).
Set in the late 16th Century during the Catholic Reformation, in the Moravian Karst, situated in what is now the Eastern Czech Republic, it tells the tale of a miller (Vítezslav Vejrazka), and his son Jan (Vít Olmer), who come under suspicion and are investigated by a Jesuit priest of the Inquisition (Miroslav Macháchek), when rumors of witchcraft are spread by the local regent (Cestmír Randa), who is jealous of the miller's prosperity and degree of respect among the local populace.
As expected from Vlá?il, this film is a stunning experience all the way through. From the opening shot, an ominous manipulation of perspective with a close up of a mangled figure of Christ dominating the foreground against a tiny figure in black walking along the horizon, to the breathtaking confrontational finale inside the vast stalactite filled Karst caverns, it is a wonderful display of visual mastery.
Maybe not quite as impressive as Marketa Lazarová, but still full of astonishing imagery. As seen from unique angles and distinct points of view which highlight the director's remarkable sense of awareness of framing, motion, and positioning on the emotional and dramatic tone of the scene. The most memorable being a repeated shot where the camera is suspended and launched with speed through the air towards the miller's door.
The story here is a simple one and I would say more accessible than his later works. With a conventional structure emphasized as much by its plot and characters, than by its expressionistic cinematography or authentic historical detail. The events play out without much surprise, and there is a strong underlying, almost supernatural, mysterious aspect that is left unresolved, in fact barely explored, which is slightly disappointing, but only because it's so fascinating that I wish there was more.
Acting is great all around. Particularly the villains: Miroslav Macháchek as the priest, casting a sinister and imposing shadow wherever he goes, and Cestmír Randa as the weasel like regent behind all the persecution. While Vít Olmer brings a charismatic leading man presence in his role as the miller's son Jan, in love with the lovely orphan girl Martina (Karla Chadimová), who becomes a dangerous object of rivalry between Jan and other young men of the village.
The film also features the evocative music of Zden?k Liška (perhaps the most prolific composer of the Czech New Wave). In this his second of eleven collaborations with Vlá?il, his compositions are used sparingly, but to great effect, complimenting but never overpowering a scene. The best example of which can be heard in an amazingly shot celebration and dance sequence at the end of the second act.
The Devil's Trap might not be a masterpiece, but it is still a strong effort, with a fascinating straightforward story and a glorious historical setting captured beautifully by Vlá?il's unmistakable visual prowess. A fine work that would also be the perfect starter plate to prepare yourself for the challenging feast of Marketa Lazarová or The Valley of the Bees. It even has an easy to digest running time. It's therefore puzzling why this gem remains largely overlooked and ignored.
中规中矩的漫改片，横滨弟弟不愧是空手道冠军出身，应该多拍拍动作戏👌🏻
有些故事明明可以拍得很恐怖，结果后面画风突变，变得很搞笑，比如那个“牙齿寄生虫后面变丧尸”和“墙里有木乃伊”的故事。那个“一个人捉迷藏”看得出有在致敬《女高怪谈》系列。看了一下演员表发现都是爱豆出演。
编剧这整啥啊，故事的收尾简直太烂了，完全是为了凑画面吓人，都把我看睡了…衣柜那个还行吧。
没多吓人，主要还是韩国恐怖片女生颜值都太高了，专注点都在美女上
一不小心抽了半小时鬼牌等我回过神来都惊愕了！不过颜狗就应该看这片，流星白麻的搭配很惊喜。
怪兽片，气氛足，最后一场戏是致敬《异形》续集吗？
【复活】塑料姐妹花黑暗仪式的约定
当成 “披着貘梶皮的貘hal同人” 来看倒还有点意思……
表层故事太拉胯 全靠摄影和剪辑吊着一口气 内里根本没空挖全靠脑补
配乐是一贯的我很不喜欢的风格，感觉是戏剧张力不够，就拿来垫一垫，女主角有各种心理文戏，但写得十分套路，结合剪辑也十分常规，有点损害到她在这个故事中的位置，被小男孩抢了戏，不过小男孩的设置依然很套路，加上没有生动的表演，故事行进得有些死气沉沉，这怪物不吓人也不折磨人，它没有提供更多的威胁给影片本身，这也是一个弊病。
一般般，部分片段有些恐怖
横滨流星 真帅 就是个子太矮了
你恶魔苏醒就干点恶魔该干的事啊，这是干嘛呢。。。社恐恶魔吗
2.5. Some atmospheric beautiful shots, decent monster design, metaphors of absent fathers, colonialism, decaying rural areas, etc...do not automatically come together and make a good film.
由短剧构成的拼盘恐怖片，大学生小组课的水平，不建议观看
韩国恐怖片真是喜欢现实意义的传达，《隧道》：道路千万条，安全第一条；《红衣女》：拒绝校园霸凌；《齿虫》：定时洗牙；《招魂》：恐同；《层间噪音》：租房核验非自然死亡事件；《二手家具》：不要买二手！《冥婚》：姓名和八字不要随便给陌生人，会被抓去配阴婚。《镜子中的女人》：自媒体的容貌焦虑。《人体模型》是比较喜欢的一个故事。《齿虫》看得我牙好疼，变异寄生虫本是好故事但变丧尸的逻辑很突兀，更近似几个类型片的捏合。多数故事在力图反恐怖片套路，部分故事虎头蛇尾倾向。
2星， 比较单纯的怪物片，加了点不幸的家庭背景，可以让一些生活不如意的观影者，借题发挥，打打拳。
哦，豆瓣就是坨屎！我没有看到今年任何一部恐怖片得到了它应得的评分。一群毫无鉴赏能力的家伙随意贬低了那么多优秀的恐怖片。实在太可悲了。
3星给会动的班目和夜行。其实光废弃大厦或抽鬼牌就够一部电影的内容了，导演非要两个都包，结果当然两个都做不好。。尤其是马高，班目费那么大劲感化他干嘛？后面就直接打酱油了。鞍马的改动也莫名其妙，原著里气场十足的黑帮大姐变成了暗恋噬谎者的傻白甜，认真的吗？但是，身为原著的粉丝，能在有生之年看到会动的噬谎者是够感动的，虽然很遗憾地应该没有以后了。。
拽着女生爬楼那个明显抄的一个特效师的ins，关键还没人家做的好
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