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.
一个恐怖片给我看困了，算是打着精神看完的。都是短短短故事，节奏快难免粗陋，所以观感并不算好，有几个故事逻辑有硬伤。但是，点掐得挺好，演员也好看，加半星吧。不过看完我一个故事都挑不出来，所以总体还是不太好。
210726- 淡淡的，但一直是我喜欢的东南亚风景与气息
救那个大命，本来觉得《齿虫》章节还行的，结果又变成了丧尸片。和之前的《韩国都市怪谈》大同小异，每一个故事发展得都挺让我意外的，呃，是意外的俗烂那种。刚开始有点好感，结果又给结局憋回去了，这么一对比感觉《怪奇宅》都顺眼多了。现在的营销号也是，怎么连这种质量的电影都要炒作。。。。
平遥电影节北京分展见到贾科长。朋友远走 大厦倒塌 父亲截肢 儿女离去 不管哪个阶段都一直在告别和失去。
整體比較老套無聊⋯像小學時候看的那種鬼故事集錦。
口水鬼片 完全没有十几年前鬼片的质感了 拼接片鬼片其实也可以拍的很有内涵的情感 的最后一个看完谁还敢去密室逃脱。。。
5：鬼敲墙（男主认为是一场浪漫邂逅…）
长这样，还不接受，那就把你变丑。
和朋友一起看的，看的时候好像都不太会去关注故事的前因后果，只对鬼什么时候出现、会怎么动手感兴趣。（以下有剧透）有些镜头还是很吓人的，比如生前被霸凌的女鬼把霸凌她的人从楼下拽到楼顶再扔下去，牙科医生自己割自己的牙龈，看衣柜的时候从镜子里看到那个男的在背后笑，墙壁突然裂缝，可能有什么东西要爬出来……
总觉得因为导演自己的思绪主导的太多以至于故事其实讲的不是很清，对于剧本或者电影而言会觉得不是很完整，特别是阿卡-友谊这部分的呈现比重和结局都很仓促。但如果站在个人而言，我如果只是想拍一部表达自己经历和情感的片子，那很多时候的情感特别是童年成长，它其实就是模糊混沌没有结果也没有逻辑的。所以对于剧情而言要看在什么角度来评价了。
配阴婚那个印象挺深，招魂那个也好。其它就没什么印象了。
完整异域生活的呈现，只是很多地方有点浅尝辄止，更像是电视剧的质感。
你去瞅瞅隔壁《世奇》，人家就算近年水准下滑，也至少能保证完整地有逻辑地讲清楚故事，你呢？
一堆零碎老故事， 不吓人看着也乱。有几个极其无聊。
粗制滥造的恐怖故事会，想看韩国分段式恐怖片还是推荐《怪奇宅》和《韩国恐怖故事》。这部可看得我太难受了，明明一些恐怖镜头气氛可以营造的更好的，却变成美女演员的个人秀！明明可以让连体娃娃流个血扭个头，明明冥婚那里可以更“贴心”的恐怖。特敷衍的路边摊恐怖片，差评差评
由几个故事单独构成，全是老梗抄袭，可以说毫无创意可言。平时不怎么看恐怖片的人观看或许还是可以清凉一夏的。
喜欢 要是三个小哥的故事能多一点就好了🥲
像 素 级 抄 袭 。给一星无关各个故事质量如何（虽然质量确实很烂），这种有就抄且不带任何头脑地原样照抄我是绝对不能容忍的。如果你是一个长篇，好抄个一两处我当你还在学习阶段。短片，集合，每一个都在抄，抄了漫画抄电影抄了电影抄游戏的，连不到2年前的特效短视频也要抄？卧槽这样的作品我无法给出任何正面评价。洪元基，下一部你还这样我就觉得你整个人都可以被拉黑了。是怎样，怪谈福利很好吃？
摄影和构图算舒服，题材选的只能说是稀松平常吧，主要这个导演对节奏的把控让我有些不解，第一部分和后两部分简直像是两个片子，后面真是越来越拖，几个点都可以收尾了却又开始了，另外虽然导演想做少年对这个地方淡淡的怀恋和对生活的无力，但通过这个影片本身，我没看出来这个少年对这个地方有多么依恋。
怎么说呢 就很一般般吧2.5 不过为了看一个电影硬生生看了10个不同字幕组的cut再加上机翻也是种蛮独特的体验了 有一说一崔乂园真的挺好看的 美女被触手怪直接吃掉也太离谱了吧 反正就是电影版爱豆拼盘演唱会 不过好像也没有演技非常拉垮的 是故事拉垮啦 都是太老套的故事了 惊吓点也全是意料之中 真的太老套 除了齿虫那个 我害怕是因为我牙真的不好 看见牙科诊所的仪器就生理性害怕好吗 真的看着我都觉得疼 最后演变成僵尸我也属实没想到 果然是万物皆可僵尸的寒国人 以及层间怪声看完之后我到底还要不要去找楼上那个天天发出各种奇怪噪声的邻居了？
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