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.
视觉暂留的设计很好，但无处不在又没有动机的摄影机毁了伪纪录片的初衷，杂乱无章的剪辑配上标准的恐怖片音效，完全在糟蹋“恐怖”这事儿的纯洁性。基于以上我认为红布后的佛脸是一个或多个摄像头对着女主角更为成立（虽然也很土
题材挺好的 半纪录片了 当迷你剧随便看看吧 爱看女主演
有多大的期待就有多失望 所以说就算是个无神论者别人让你别去的地方你就不要去啊 一直跟rap一样在你耳边叨叨叨同一句 就是为了膈应观众是吧/ 最后那句纪念我的小天使一出来我都要看笑了 作为恐怖片让人看笑了也是一种本领👍
最后一段有些割裂，但前面拍得很好，所有人演技都在线
我真的蛮无语的，一些人一边喊着自己唯物主义，一边觉得晦气狂喷导演打一星，看恐怖片还想给你弘扬什么正能量吗，干脆去看主旋律好了
评论区也过于恶臭了吧，且不论你们看的是正版或盗版，一股脑疯了似的诅咒导演祖宗十八代的人是真不过脑子，别忘了这是电影！
没想到特殊时期看了这部特殊的片，真不知道居然是和新冠有关。不管是哪里，遇到病毒，付出的代价都是惨痛的。镜头对着特殊时期特殊人群，讲了一个充满温柔的悲剧。希望早点好起来吧。
不要盯着那些经文看!
一个伪纪录恐怖片罢了，它能让你反感，让你迷信不安，导演就已经赢了。跟《哭声》《灵媒》共享一种创作思路，都是要算计观众，《咒》干脆就跟你玩个大的。一般的恐怖片不恐怖，只是廉价的视觉刺激，像《咒》这种把你拉下水的，恐怖感才能持续的稍微久一点吧。
毫无代入感的恐怖片，各种超自然现象没有逻辑地堆砌，全靠一惊一乍的视觉冲击和音效在制造恐怖，这是最低级的手段。既然要主角拿着摄像机拍成伪纪录片，那就多使用长镜头吧，否则一个场景各种视角来回切换真的很出戏！
这个反转设计的就像曾经qq空间广为流传的不转发就会怎么样的那些文章/状态一样低级且无趣 不过作为伪纪录片来说 把互动感融入片中其实也算是一种创新 化妆做的不错 三星半
#2nd THFF 午夜驚奇單元 不合格的偽紀錄，很新穎的交互性。
还挺好，民俗、仪式感拉满了。恐怖电影没有点恶意，还配叫恐怖电影？如果相信鬼神又来看鬼片，那从开始看不就在侮辱鬼神吗？怕什么诅咒？打低分的人也真是，多少有被广电的烙铁塑造过脑仁儿吧。
体制如此，个人能做的实在太少，哪怕只是救回一个人........
开头我就知道女主肯定要害观众，果然导演恶意满满，都是小学玩剩下的，转发10人那种…全片就是不作死就不会死
我被哪个骗了说这个没有昆池岩可怕的？………
爱你孤身走洞窟
女主角就是个害人精over，还没那个大家都懂的台游吓人。有些地方渲染得挺恐怖的但你手持摄影晃来晃去我看不清啊！带着观众互动那一套倒是挺新鲜的，从贞子录像带到把这条消息转发五个群再到老铁们弹幕刷起来，我们真的相信传播的力量吗。被咒是增加恐怖感啊没想到因为这个被打低分，咋的如果电影最后说本片被开过光票房能破50亿？
恐怖片在豆瓣评分普遍这么低看来就是因为这些傻逼了…
Copyright © 2015-2023 All Rights Reserved
