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.
本子还行，设定拉垮，看不下去。彗星来的那一夜
在这记忆的平行森林里面，你会选择哪一种成为你的心理救赎呢？“我对付得了野猪。”可我对付不了我自己
感兴趣真的可以支持一下！
概念设置的还算不错了，就是整体的故事不是特别出彩吧
立意很高，野心很大，但是各个方面都比较一般，人性挖掘也不够。直观来说国外的我都不敢看，而这个我当时差点睡着
还不错雷神拍戏及格水平还是有的，其实我想打三星半的
总体还行。节奏稍微差点，都快三分之一了才出片名。
难得看到如此精彩的国产小成本电影，虽然有些许bug，但瑕不掩瑜，值得五星
剧本的开始其实很好，让我想到了平行宇宙这个剧。如果导演能看到这个评论的话，其实想给导演说里面有很多情节没有填完，这个故事肯定可以更精彩的。而且这个结局有些草率。可惜了…
国内少有的科幻悬疑大片，全程仅三名演员，电影质感很不错，观影过程中烧脑而又紧张，这个类型的电影国内真的少见，好莱坞风格蛮值得观看，推荐呀
人永远不能两次踏入同一条河流，我们想回到的过去，其实已经不是过去的过去了。
5/10，鉴于观影过程实在是趣味性太低，归到两星档。其实设定脑洞很有意思，只不过就是没拍好，如果你能进入平行时空，发现另一个时空的自己过的比自己好，你会嫉妒，这样引发人性问题（多有意思啊，反转也好设定）。开头进入故事线慢，前半小时甚至想弃，节奏慢的出奇，到一个小时左右才发觉有点意思，好像导演也只会用一些阴间配乐来调动观众情绪了，其实没多大作用哈，演员演技包括台词也严重出戏，尤其是男主，对结局也不满意，（如果要展现人性黑化可以让女主杀了那个世界的自己。）总之，一点五流剧本二流演技三流导演吧。
虽然剧本还可以 但节奏实在是太慢了 内容匮乏 还有男主的演技一直很出戏
仅仅是一个为了表达平行宇宙概念而拍的片子，问题确实太多了。
1.谢苗是个好演员 机会太少了 2.题材中规中矩 但是在东北应该大量原型 虽然犯罪被这么高科技化 但是具体的黑社会组织一定有 3.东北怪王太多年没出来了 老丈人的老一代江湖气和破财买平安的感觉 演的还是到位的 老流氓老了也怕死 都想老婆孩子热炕头
彗星来的那一夜➕时空罪恶，也有恐怖游轮的影子
为了碗子来的 支持 真的 国内能拍出这样水准的电影很不容易了 再接再厉 加油💪
作为一部超低成本的国产电影，本片已经算很成功了。看得出来导演深受欧美惊悚片影响，《时空罪恶》，《恐怖游轮》，《彗星来的那一夜》这三部不知道他研究过多少遍，还顺便致敬了《闪灵》。叙事，演技，摄影都在水准之上，只是电影节奏太慢让我有点跑神，此类故事已经不算新了，基本上能猜到结局，场景也不多变，演员也就三个，拍到102分钟实在有些拖沓，如果能控制在80分钟左右也许看着会多一些娱乐性，节奏慢下来观众就容易去思考bug，这对科幻悬疑类，又是低成本的电影本身就没有好处。
立意很高，野心很大，但是各个方面都比较一般，人性挖掘也不够。直观来说国外的我都不敢看，而这个我当时差点睡着
卧槽了吹爆
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