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.
可怕！别再拍了。估计也拍不了了，竟然把波洛引以为豪的胡子都剃干净了，这是想干嘛？一脸问号！！狭隘的猜测肯尼思搞不好有过感情创伤，不然怎么能把波洛拍成这样。波洛是个幽默、聪明、自负却可爱，喜欢当月老的老绅士。可不是这么个苦大仇深的形象。
除第三个故事的生化人外，其他剧情平庸、画面肮脏。4k画质看录像带的效果，也是没谁了
当然电影要说优点吗……也有，演员演技不错，配乐也还行。
救命，太可怕了，让人当场取消alist再也不想为了薅羊毛强行去电影院。颜值萎败（+演员本人debuff）的阿米锤演这么个莫名自带性瘾魔咒的男狐狸精谁吃得下呢，所有完全不性感的公共场合play都使我满脑乱ring“why dont we do it in the road”来缓解恶心感；金字塔特效过时得我全程惦记没打完的刺客起源，镜头和光影和剪辑全部业余得令人叹服。剧本做了一些干瘪死板的耸动改编，点缀了零零星星的white supremacy凝视和说教，头尾拧成了徒劳自恋的波洛故事尴尬补完。（以及我实在不想再听英国演员凹法语口音了，jane birkin也就算了，这么多年过去了何必何必）
不是
故事多少有些仓促而无趣。因为没看过原著，所以也无从判断到底是原著还是改编的问题。但新加入的种族和同性的元素，显然对剧情推进毫无帮助，那就显得相当多余了不是。
……开场以为进错厅/放错片儿（传说中的狙击手/长津湖？），直到特效啃泥出现——亨利五世在一战？进入正片儿逐渐明白是亲妈不认的程度，太阳/月亮呢？？？本来出于情谊想3星，但是剃胡子不答应！维兰德阿尔茨海默了你也不能削菠萝啊……
忘记原著剧情了，也没有什么大的意见。船上的密室杀人案，拍得也太像剧本杀了。看完有点想去埃及。
尼罗河风光大好，妹子们都好靓，波洛和嫌犯玩起吴宇森式拔枪对视，然后为泡妞先把胡子蓄起来再把胡子刮了，附带LGBT一下，种族问题一下，贫富阶级一下，大家来探讨爱情是什么哈……跟上一部《东方快车》差不多的样子吧
之前看布拉纳拍的《东方快车谋杀案》觉得还行，直到我看了1974年西德尼·吕美的版本😅而这一部甚至都不用我去看1978年的那版了，布拉纳你收手吧，好不容易熬过春节档你让我看了个啥玩意儿啊😅侦探悬疑电影的三个主角第一次会面就被你拍成让人一看就知道谁是凶手的情况，导演亲自给观众剧透啊亲人们！还有不知道是这个角色不适合加朵还是咋，越看越像是美国Anglebaby，希望不是你加朵真的没啥演技😅
全员演技不在线，风光虽然假可是杜比影院效果真的好啊。5
艾米汉莫？
属实没必要，不知道布拉纳哪儿来的自信拍这种人尽皆知的阿婆作品，尤其首尾来了段波洛小胡子的秘密以及如何重建自信，明显是想给自己加戏，加朵接这个角色就是为了那段埃及艳后装扮吧，汉莫现在形象越来越憨傻了，推荐科恩兄弟拍无厘头喜剧时找他演蠢蛋，前女友那么小丑女，怎么可能不是个狠角色。
导演力太差了，太差了……是怎么能把这样剧本拍得臭长的，刑侦部分语焉不详，爱情部分脚趾抓地，埃及景的大柔光太廉价，合成景毫无大银幕舒适度。一次完全没必要的重拍……@MK2OdéonStGermain
肯导的表演&导演风格还是一如既往的油腻和抓不住重点
拍得是nmlgb。同性恋、黑人加入，拍得稀烂
平心而论，如果不是开头那几分钟加上结尾这几分钟，这电影对于原著的改编尚且还能接受。
尼罗河的特效泛着贼光，故事设定强行插入一堆平权内容，结局推理毫无道理，最过分的是竟然还给波洛的胡子整了个悲伤往事。我看波洛是为了看这个的吗！
阿加莎的几部经典作品就跟金庸的小说一样，过段时间就翻拍一版。但是显而易见，这部翻拍非常一般。
23.03.2022 | @ Regal Majestic | 感觉看了三个小时。前面好闷啊！不过这个波洛还不错。
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