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.
以为是个惊悚人性片,结果就是个警匪动作片...
几个主角配角好无张力的困兽斗，陷落哥和交叉骨，还有个黑人女主角女警察，和劫匪斗智斗力，故事都发生在美丽国小镇一间警察局里，职业杀手、诈骗犯、警察一场困兽斗
为什么过了这么多年都没有拍的比血溅十三号警署好呢？teddy和bob不都是水准之上的演员吗？怎么废话这么多呢，女主倒是有眼前一亮的地方，但是属实不惊艳，所以只能是平庸之作把
坏蛋维迪克和瓦莱莉警官身份对立一黑一白，却惺惺相惜，不知道女主经此大战，会不会三观崩塌
扛过前面一小时的铺垫，后半部简直WTF！！！不过最后女主的反转画蛇添足了。
小镇的警察局是不是太悠闲了，看见实体和满地的弹壳都不最高戒备。行吧，就是个爽片，无脑看个乐呵。
看封面就知道国内翻译肯定有“陷落”俩字，果然……正义陷落，呆呆警察局可能更适合
剧本还是不行啊，整个警局除了女主，其他人的智商跟韩国片中的条子难分上下。另外感叹一下，你们外国的黑警和腐败上司就是多啊
一流配乐
阵容、拍摄、表演、节奏其实都很不错，但是看完总体感觉差点意思，导演显然是想把一个常规犯罪故事拍得脱俗一点、内涵丰富一点、文艺一点，但是效果显然没有达到。
警匪在警察局的故事，充分证明了一点，没有一个匪类会是好人。
扛过前面一小时的铺垫，后半部简直WTF！！！不过最后女主的反转画蛇添足了。
一看有杰拉德巴特勒就想肯定是大手笔，结果一看他还不算是猪脚，佛兰克格里罗在美国应该也不算是一线明星吧，这个黑妞算是主演了，可是我还真不认识（恕我孤陋寡闻）估计是导演的老婆或者啥亲戚，电影还不算太差，起码我从头看完了，消磨时间吧！
真不知道这么炫酷这么有格调的电影豆瓣怎么才6分，在我心目中完全值得8点几分啊！斯巴达王演的杀手和另外一个变态杀手风格完全不同，同场飙戏彪的太过瘾了。这个警察局也太惨了hhh
有个小反转的悬念片，活着留下来的两个人是一伙的
Grillo 越来越上道了，只是剧情很搞笑，那个醉汉大胡子，我以为多牛皮，居然自投罗网，没想到还是得求着黑妞放了自己…这个就比较搞了…等等，那个黑妞是他女友吗？搞了半天就这么小惊喜？！
3.5/5，格局有点小，逻辑有点乱，如果冲俩男主来看会很失望因为没有任何肉搏戏，且戏份光芒被新人女主和精神病盖过。密闭空间+色调构图+黑色幽默算是有点意思，不难看
影评人不喜欢，但我觉得很有趣。这部电影用一种黑色幽默的手法，把第一次世界大战的偶然性和残酷性都体现了出来。这本是一场不必要的战争，人头滚滚，皇冠落地。一腔热血的年轻骑士死得偶然又毫无意义，但这正是一战的荒诞之处。明摆着瞎编历史，但历史本来荒唐。如果说有什么不足之处，配乐太满了算一处吧，其实不需要这么用力地营造宏大的仪式感。
中间的战斗还是有些意思的，不过后边的剧情有点混乱，泰迪的人物没有立起来，还不如那个变态杀手形象，泰迪的整个形象就很奇怪，感觉一般般吧
前面一半都是引子，正准备睡着的时候，反转的让我睡意全无。一直努力在想坏人之间的结果是什么？一个故事其实简单到可以常理之中就是反转的最好交代。再想想国内的电影，编剧真的是太累了。
Copyright © 2015-2023 All Rights Reserved
