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.
美国迈阿密成了水上哥谭，金刚狼和<马戏之王>的女歌手再续前缘，末世感的设定掩盖不住小家子气的内核，片子披着诺兰的外壳讲了一个拖沓的悬疑爱情故事。
帅哥狼叔被骗炮痛失资料惹
只有五分钟好看，不知道想干嘛的无聊电影，aka废柴屁事多。吴彦祖强行夹中文简直笑疯。
1.故事本身不错，但是剧本平庸，文戏过多，拖沓冗长，节奏扁平，亮点太少。2.背景音乐和部分海景画面不错。3.吴彦祖几句话承包我一年笑点。而我居然在吴彦祖年华老去的时候才开始发现他的帅。4.不跳戏是很难的，狼叔每次从水缸里出来我都在想念他的钢爪。5. 不客观的五星全部献给这个分分钟把我掰弯的绝世美人，以及这个我爱了二十年的男人。
对未来水世界的描绘近乎于预言。但除此之外，乏善可陈。人物形象单薄，情感缺乏演进，角色动机不明，剧情漏洞难圆。
科幻的外壳讲了个爱情故事，乱世背景下也有真爱，职业女骗子也有从良的那一天，画面美得好像女主角各种颜色的真丝裙子，不扣小细节的话没感觉哪里不合理，甚至可以完全忽视情节逐帧看画面也是很美好的感受
太乏味了，而且对于事件的还原也没什么意思，当做动作片看还行，吴彦祖又演了一次反派，收手吧，阿祖
披着科幻的外衣讲述一个多情中年男追问题女人的故事，也是用爱的借口掩盖自己被性感女人迷惑的事实而已。
和敌人对线的时候大喊~啊！！我没子弹了~~~
很喜欢片中未来水世界中城市的那种衰败感 男主整个就一根筋到底的恋爱脑 所有的科幻 悬疑设定就为了讲一个老套路的爱情故事:美艳女子误嗑药并卷入了黑帮大佬 黑警 地产暴发户的破事中 为自保假装接近并爱上男主 没想到后面真的爱上了…吴彦祖为什么要讲一句英文并夹带一个中文词语…
挺磨叽的，世界观也毫无意义，本来想说机器其实也有别的代替方式没什么意义的，但是，最后的结局，各自的选择，幸福和悲伤交织的结局，心里酸酸的，很棒，配上bgm还是把分数撑到了三星
故事构思和开篇的浪漫设计都挺吸引人，可惜后面的拖沓节奏和不忍直视的动作设计直接将影片沦为了平庸之作。。。
槽点密集，转折生硬，套路满满，廉价煽情。
有这样的时空隧道，真的是太棒了。吴彦祖的亮相很精彩，就是混杂着中文的台词让我鸡皮疙瘩一地。悬疑的节奏稍稍慢了点。
基调迷人，概念不新，外壳尚可，内里空洞，诺兰弟媳学得到皮毛，文本还有很大提升空间。狼叔丽贝卡再续马戏之王前缘，吴彦祖保持除暴中油腻，还有为啥每句英文里都得蹦个中文啊，巨他吗蠢。
6分 刻画了这么大的一个背景 你就给我讲了一个这么小格局的无聊爱情故事…吴彦祖你以为他是个BOSS吧，其实他就是个打酱油的…
兜了好大的圈子，硬生生把故事兜复杂了，科幻元素在本片中应该只是充当一种工具，用来玩结构的工具。当然，结尾还是挺有仙气的。PS：看到打斗戏的时候总会不自觉地冒出念头：狼叔怎么还没亮爪子？哈~
剧情无新意，彦祖说华语，狼叔无体力，丽姐没有动作戏。
忠犬女黑人单刷黑帮副本突袭男都得往后靠灭了嚣张香蕉人拯救了老板男白人，助力痴心老板男白人去追求聪明美丽善良命运多舛的女神女白人，得，这是你们以后（暂时）的爱情路了，毕竟以后无性别人士的爱情也要安排上。女主角不能让人惊艳，没有说服力，不过挺经看的。
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