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.
其实挺有意思的，结尾预留了可继续伸展的空间，新的故事也将开启。期待续集。
挺有想法啊，这结尾值得多半颗星，三星半推荐。如果流程再紧凑点会更好
不同于以往的驱魔片的模式化，编剧导演反向操作的构思确实在意料之外，细思极恐的结局又隐晦的透露给你，在这地球上，天使与恶魔的争战从未停止﹉貌似魔鬼胜了这局，但有一双眼睛早已看穿了一切﹉
不错的 一直害怕后面会崩 但还维持的挺不错 是那种会推荐给别人看的爱情轻喜剧 适合在放松休息时想看个恋爱片的情景看 6、7分吧 尤其在我看了好几部爱情烂片之后 这片真的感觉不错 编剧编的误会冲突等等都还算合理 除了没屋子必须住一间这个梗偶像剧里哈哈真的太常见了 台词也还不错 欢喜冤家虽然老套但用点心编还是会让人百看不厌 男女主身高差和打嘴炮火花十足啊 达西真的是完美伴侣啊 又被cue到了 男主演绎的这个强迫症性格加上他的身材 显得他很hot
主题新颖，反向驱魔。
驱神的想法有点新意，但化妆特效实在喜感，比谁嗓门大吧
驱魔全靠吼啊 上帝和恶魔互吼 谁肺活量好谁赢 事实证明上帝肺活量还是强👍
🌟一顆星給妝髮，沒了。
为了男主身材给两星。虽然剧情老套 但还是可以打发打发时间 开心一下的。
跑到男同事工位窥探人家笔记，破解对方电脑，这是侵犯他人隐私。在电梯间强吻女同事，送玫瑰送卡片送草莓汁，这是职场性骚扰。是怎样的概率让旅店只剩了一间房，新婚新娘是男友的前女友，甚至敢在人家婚礼上对男方父亲大放厥词。感情就像一场漆弹拉锯战，希望每个人都分得清调情和对一个人真正有感情。
反向驱魔确实有创意，但是牧师的几次中断驱魔导致前功尽弃也确实来气。却又实实在在的黑了一把梵蒂冈（恶魔就在梵蒂冈），也挺敢想。依然喜欢宗教题材！
这故事真是编的天马行空啊，前段到中段都还可以，上帝、圣母都被恶魔化，后面也太扯了，片中没有一个神职人员是没和恶魔做过交易的，这部片宗教团体不出来反对一下吗？
你们是认真的吗，这么高的分。。。中途看着有点累，剧情一点都不惊艳，除了一些很常规的伴奏突然来一下，点都不吓人，而且剧情。。。。拉胯
看到一半zha成丧尸片儿😅啊呀吓死我了。最后twist有点子意思，vtc抗议没啊好奇🤔
高开低走，神父驱逐恶魔，恶魔驱逐上帝，给反过来了，脑洞虽好，但是后面怎么看怎么像恐怖恶搞，但但是还是很新颖的，3星及格没问题。
开头的大尺度驱魔挺吸睛，节奏和时长控制的可以，上帝的牧师和恶魔对着驱逐，输出全靠吼，形式新颖有突破，碍于成本有限也算还可以，2.5星
除了恶魔和上帝可以互相驱除这个有点意思以外，其他都是很套路的恐怖片，突然袭击的吓人，互相对喷的怒吼。也就看个热闹吧。
没有什么新意，带有一点点软色情，低于驱魔片平均水准，不要浪费时间...
2022年3月18號/星期五
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