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.
And虽然加入日本都市元素很酷
打得挺带劲的，姐姐辛苦了，妹妹很可爱，看到东京喰种了
动作设计和日本风格做的还不错，故事就是大数据产品
今年打女片特別多，這暫時是年度最好的一套(如果年底前沒有其他)。三場動作主戲狠勁十足，若果戲院上映肯定有「三角嘜」加持。編導亦知道此類電影該專注的地方，沒有大搞複雜劇情。
冲温姐看的，怒火攻心版John Wick，设定有点儿意思，怎奈故事和动作戏都乏善可陈。。
典型的模式化故事，亮点是动作戏把痛感拍出来了，文姐这是要往打女方向转型吗？国村隼砍浅野忠信那两刀很有老武士片那范儿。
比较老套的女主复仇电影，中毒增加了复仇难度，小女孩凸现了女主的温情，日本黑帮的加入和大阪东京城市夜景的展现增加了影片的异域和未来的风格。女主的造型和动作戏都干净利落，全片配乐也不错，总体可以一看，但没有大惊喜。
热血黑帮杀手复仇……无脑动作片的基本元素都有了，配得上爆米花的价钱。
小孩的部分太多余…幕后boss这种设定也十分俗套。值得一题以及主要提分的片段是故意整成黑白背景的日式餐厅战！这一段可以更长一些！毕竟这种谈不上剧情的片子必须靠精彩的动作戏才行！
真就奇葩的逻辑，小孩的心理比大叔的命还重要？？看门的大叔干啥坏事了，大叔命贱？
20211013看过。被失控玩家喂屎结局伤害了来看乱杀电影冷静一下。作案前不要喝酒我还以为是杀手界常识啊！Mary的泪沟使我感叹岁月TT，很吃她的甜妹颜，似乎从猛禽小队就开始走打戏路线了...血浆少动作戏多，霓虹灯元素还挺酷。女主和侄女从坐的士到在大院门口告别的一段是我比较喜欢的部分。以及这俩的片段我都当百合看了（不）还挺配。
剧情没啥说的了，就是一只缝合怪，没啥新颖的。杀手有了良知本身就是对组织的一种威胁，而且这个有良知得杀手还要退出，不杀她杀谁呢？不可能让她带着动摇组织的秘密轻松离开的
一个电影反映出一个国家的国情，美国控制世界的野心从来不会停止，一个特工潜伏在日本就已经把日本搅得地覆天翻，日本还是一个唯美国马首是瞻的附属国，那么潜伏在其他国家的哪？大量从事暗杀、策反、分裂任务的美国特务又对这个世界造成了多少伤害？自由平等的平静的表面下是无数暗流涌动，多少个国家在美国的幕后操作下面临分裂、破碎，甚至是亡国，来实现美国的霸权主义，人上人制度。
女版的约翰.威克！但是爽的程度还没达到，情节也有一定程度的硬伤，感觉像是流水线作品。
一言以蔽之：speak English motherfucker
日系外衣下的欧美枪战片，但故事太一般。伍迪和浅野两个老油条戏份那么少，就是为了捧玛丽都不出彩，看来她还是只适合演都市慢节奏电影，演冷酷杀手都一副悠闲小甜心模样。
东京是个空壳子，这东京夜景跟洛杉矶长得一模一样，地标符号完全没有凸显（不是放些霓虹灯和二次元就日本了啊喂，真正的好的地标应用见金城武《不夜城》），只是一种光影效果的噱头。
就一个动作片来讲是合格的 // get到女主的飒劲儿（双子杀手时没有）84年的姐姐演个动作片，演技合格还能凸显出别样的硬派美感，那些讲求少女感的花儿们做得到吗！ // 霓虹文化加持+一日游构架，黑暖风比较戳我，额外加1星 // 怎么感觉5D一直在消耗自己……反派劲儿也暴露得太早了吧，让我对整个剧情都没了期待。（好在这种片子也不需要什么期待）
只记得爆爆柠檬和鬼冢虎，朱莉，凯特，斯嘉丽，玛丽，下一个谁？
同样是老美团队，看看人家融合了多少日本元素，咱们砸那么多钱给老美拍出来的有一点中国味道吗？不是说两句国语就行了
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