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.
好看！剧情超级新颖！想想导演应该累死了。。很韩国的打斗和拍摄手法，剧情新颖紧凑！
不断魂穿在一个贩毒加警察内鬼的案件中各个人的男主，无论在怎样都在拯救女主，动作爽片，最后一场戏有点john wick孤胆英雄的味道。
电影需要更多的细节和真实填满
换得并未脸盲，但结局总觉得设计的不好，差点意思…
谜底再难猜一点就更好看了。一开始挺抓人的。
前半段不断切换身份寻求真相的部分还挺有代入感 后半段剧情有点老套 整体还是不错的 剧中乞丐是亮点
全剧透#讲的就是一个人灵魂出窍附在了很多人身上 这个【很多人】同一个目标都是去救本体的女朋友 从中牵扯出一宗毒品交易案。其实故事想象力还行 这个设定听起来有点酷又浪漫 特别是最后警察问“为什么这些人都要来救你？””女主回“他们不是这些人，他们是同一个人”会让人有点感动。然而电影节奏不好 而且我怎么感觉这里好几个人脸都好像换来换去我都有点脸盲了 还有觉得这样的枪战如果能加个高水平的长镜头会更好。
跳脱一次就一个主角，为何要同一张脸？？？？大可以玩的更high，到头来是个爱情片，6分
一会是第三视角，一会是第一视角，拍得太混乱了。
就是感觉立意挺好的，但是剧情撑不起这个立意，男女主压根儿也没有展现什么火花，然后附身的情况下也没有什么引人入胜的点，唯一可取的就是最后的动作戏，整段动作确实行云流水，韩国动作电影看来确实超越了咱们了，不过最后结尾整来一帮杀马特炮灰，主角完成反杀之后也没有解决什么问题。总结一句话，名不副实的电影
无处不在的镜子 无处不狭隘紧迫的构图 都把主角压迫在空间里 压迫在一个个躯壳里 通过几个与主角有关系的人物视角带出整个事件 在传统的线性叙事下 破竹出新颖的叙事方式
设定挺有意思，但是剧情不难猜，结尾反派死于话多。
7分。一开始的悬疑部分挺好的，后半部真相揭开开始就拉胯了，可惜。其实男主应该由多名演员来演，这样悬疑感更足导演都没那么累。动作部分很有感觉，有点大叔的赶脚。
设定新鲜，每12小时从一个身体内醒来。但一个技巧用太多次，有点乱。
时辰一到换容器
看音乐剧现场时不觉惊艳，倒是拍成电影后几段MV让人惊喜。男主角虽然稚嫩但真是个漂亮男孩，音乐剧初版男主还客串了老变装皇后年轻时期。
非常有趣的设定，可惜拍的没有那么好，白瞎这么优秀的设定，开篇部分充满惊喜，越解释越邪乎！核心是爱情片，表达的是男主别人盗号来救女主，至于科不科学那都不重要了，动作戏份非常认真了，整体也比较工整！
三星全都给到McCrea……太美了🥺🥺不要自作聪明改这么多细节好吗 很喜欢剧版Pritti和Jamie作为minority的连结，电影似乎弱化了……（而且在stereotyping feminist
意外地好看，是跟着主角一起揭开谜底的类型。不过有点担心尹启相被锁住戏路了。
尹启相可塑性还挺好的。从《酒神小姐》里的残障青年，到《犯罪都市》的哈尔滨张谦，变化相当大。本片还不错，可看。
Copyright © 2015-2023 All Rights Reserved
