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.
劇情錯亂沒有任何銜接感，女二還是個忘恩負義的傢伙，把別人對她的好視為理所當然，甚至還莫名的道德至上，整個混亂到不行，女主也是真的很慘。
虽然现在封建迷信仍然存在，麻木不仁的人也不是没有，但真的感谢革命先辈们，让我能诞生在这个和平年代，这个现代得多也开明得多的时代，但愿自己也能做个革命者，保持坚定探索真相的脚步，不畏惧强权不害怕未知，努力让自己让世界变得更好！
世上有许许多多看似“怪异”的人，可他们也是人，也有一颗有温度的心，还望我们放下偏见，善待他们。也许你会说我咋想这么多，我无话可说，这就是我的感受吧。
首先，不能拿这个片子和黑天鹅比，尤其是舞蹈部分，比起来一定会吐血；其次，不能从深度上去评价这部电影，这样会精分；再次，所有的反转都做的特别离谱，也不能在剧情上要求它过于跌宕起伏。那么，哪怕它那么多缺点，我还是无尿点地观影到结束，并且，心从来没有停歇地看下去，而某些形式我很喜欢，比如丛林里的仪式感，还有女二最后的一支舞，（3p那段，那男的也笑死个人。）我觉得看到了青春，和女生美丽的身体，我觉得这个电影嗅起来很香，凭这点，值得花费两个小时，并且任性地给了4星。
贼可爱的儿童恐怖片，女巫抓小孩儿给自己写恐怖故事听哈哈哈哈设定很有意思，画面也闪闪亮亮五颜六色的很好看。糖果屋整个亮晶晶✨连监狱的栅门都有亮闪闪，图书室非常漂亮。
本来以为是黑色童话版的一千零一夜，结果到头来还是糖果屋杀老巫婆的老酒故事，全新解读了一番后，想法倒是不错挺好玩的，但影片越往后走感觉越无趣，跟前两年凯特大魔王那部嘀嗒屋差不多，低配版的雷迪嘎嘎造型令那位演员根本就撑不起来，没有丝毫魅力风格和个性，且把角色都给毁了，没什么特别吓人的点，也没什么特别出色的点，就那间暗夜荧光花圃还算比较有趣，四眼小男孩是不是鬼庄园一的那个，乍一看浑身上下都是戏但他演的太用力了，现在的童星真不行，一上戏一股模子感，真没我们那个时候的孩子自然有灵气，打发下时间还可以，但要说想拍成一部别具一格的恐怖片或者黑童话那就差得远了，毕竟蒂姆波顿还失过手呢！
悬疑到最后我都怀疑这到底是部什么片子了，妥妥的浪费两个小时
构思真的不错，对于青少年来说是一部很好的入门惊悚片。唯一的错误就是分级是R级。
非常常见的黑白斗嘴警探二人组 为什么宣传片里他们非要打太极呢？
女主的神情逼真、传神，让人有身临其境的感觉，完全被她带入剧情里面了。
鬼节项目，水怪质量差了点，皮套不够精致哈哈哈，故事还可以的，稍微有点尴尬
拍摄、色调还不错，但是故事确实没什么新意，女主好看但是演技着实拉胯
看到中间真以为你们要共同进步奋斗双双得奖顺便谈个恋爱😭凯特你为什么不相信她😭
配乐挺好听的，就是总感觉有股小时代味儿……
整体来说，没啥新意，很早中国版咖喱辣椒比这部有意思，法国式幽默，夹杂着血腥和暴力，碎嘴带着色情，很多元素都涉及，公路飙车，枪战笼战都没有很出色表现出来，只能说表现平平。只是能顺畅的把故事讲完而已。
很惊喜！！本来以为和第一部一样生硬落入俗套，没想到居然可以讲一个比较完整的故事，恐怖氛围营造的也不错，内核也高级多了，女主真的爱了！胆大心细！有勇有谋！聪明勇敢！水猴子是她弟弟这一点确实没想到，还有点狗血，不过整体真的不错！！鼓励鼓励！
感觉还不错啊，画面有质感，剧情也还比较完整，演员演技都在线，剧情有点像河神
2021.8.23. 全片色调偏暗，眼睛看瞎，故事线清晰，唯一看点结尾强硬来一波感动？
一星给两个主演美丽的脸（）看完全片真的会觉得几分钟的cp剪辑赢了
全片的笑点全部集中在性和有色人种上，以及漫长的balabla的废话。抛开这些，剧情老套中规中矩，但是也不算特别不能看，在超市里开着碰碰车追人，已经在海边悬崖上车戏也算有些新鲜。
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