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.
忘记打卡了！可以说各方面都让人很意犹未尽......但是恐怖片不就是要尽兴才好嘛！
本来从开篇一路下来一直不错，故事虽简单，但叙事练达，氛围营造颇佳，影片质感很好，神秘感也有。但最后的boss战实在太过潦草无理，就像忽然换了个导演，俗套的结尾伏笔也落了下乘。
啥情况，一个疯批主角被改编成了温柔大哥哥？
太垃圾了 简直是在侮辱我的眼睛 为了恐怖而恐怖 给我看笑了
看一半睡着了，醒来继续看又差点把我干趴下。 生病去医院 有困难找警察。 5/10
剧情一般，但是这中二的感觉～横滨的白毛～还是很不错的。（为啥感觉流星和大当家有点好嗑）
如果“恐怖片”都不能算作恐怖片，那么什么能算作恐怖片呢？废话，当然是能吓人的片。
没头没尾的。每一个故事太短了！！转折有些生硬
太难看了，就牙医那集还凑合，其他真的是巨老套巨无聊~就好像小时候听的鬼故事截取了一个片段没头没尾拍了个电影~
横滨流星“生动”演绎何为“邪魅狂狷”：“老子不会输”。傲娇白麻有点可爱，黄毛多哥虽然忠犬，还是一副臭脸2333，瞎子三浦看上去有点好笑，但竟然是演得最好的😢
十个故事，没有一个是有亮点的，这也是个人才。
怎么做到把每个本来可以拍的好看的故事都拍烂的
看着机翻字幕的电影真真伤不起，都是连蒙带猜:
一句话概括就是颜值真的很高的一部电影。没看过原著，剧情节奏不算慢，但是作为烧脑剧题材，每次揭晓的时候实在是有种就这？？的无力吐槽感。就...这样。
蛮好看的，青年漫改电影。设定有创意，赌郎组织，吃老千的噬慌者。目标：世界和平。
啃了个生肉，无聊中带着烂（演技），几个亚洲各地都市传说，不能算抄袭但绝对不是原创故事。给恐怖片kpi凑数的吧
男帅女靓，韩国特色。大部分都是没头没尾的小故事，有的连逻辑都没有，首尔怪谈这个名字起的很好，因为真的就是都市怪谈，没有原因，没有结果，只是一次又一次的发生。十个故事吧，还是有两三个不错的，可以引起我的共鸣和恐惧。可能每个人都有或多或少害怕的东西，故事多了总可以把这些恐惧引出来。
原作里庞大的设定背后有相应的智谋和暴力支撑，电影摆出了原作设定的外壳，对智谋和暴力的表现效果却十分平庸。
虽然缝但至少制作和演都不拉 人家不拍就没得看 -
但就像我很早时候说的，看恐怖片就不要太在意逻辑，好好享受电影的氛围才是最重要的。
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