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.
跟拆弹2类似的故事，讽刺制度下自私小人漠视他人命运而为己牟利。这样催生下来的谢霆锋一群角色，很难不联想到黑暗骑士里Joker的那一群人。甄子丹的动作导演真的是一个保障，打戏太好看了！
谢霆锋确实迷人，除此之外本片其他都很无聊，2021年了还玩这种剧情（但也因为是2021年了此片居然能打出7分以上…（从众多支持反派的弹幕中看出了打工人的怨愤
动物版的“偷天陷阱”+“速度与激情”+“十一罗汉”……总之，致敬了很多经典特工电影桥段，还有梦工厂一贯的正义与友情，挺有意思！
不小心买到了国语场，全场的小朋友，一到精彩情节，椅子背就被踢，刺激升级
Being good just feels so good.
好喜欢好喜欢，在打破刻板印象和反转上做得挺有意思的，“蛇鼠一窝”和“披着羊皮的狼”，猫科动物的喜好各种各样梗也好好笑，假期放松最佳选择，但不太适合小朋友看哈哈
非常轻松娱乐的美味快餐电影。感觉哪哪都好看，拿捏的刚刚好，不费脑子不搞沉思不讲大道理，不会看完内心沉重思索许久也不会转头一秒就能把故事回忆完。故事本身就设计地流畅精彩，画风也好动作动感。蜘蛛侠真的是开创了动画新道路。人物塑造很棒，几个角色配合画面动作肢体细节太讨喜了，尤其毛茸茸的几个。
vis dev太美！ 值得学习 fx烟雾手绘帧数不够感觉跟其他3d部分融合不够好？故事通俗又流畅 以蛇跟狼的友谊为基石由狐狸带出主角的成长，一般情况下这种hist gang movie最容易发生的就是动作很过瘾但是看着看着就忘了这场打戏又是为了啥以及人物过眼云烟没记住几个然后多次反转普通观众已经放弃尝试解读。。 这部片子完全没有这些问题，人物个性鲜明，感情内核很明确，全程跟随主角狼的人物成长，两次反转也简单明了无伤大雅甚至有点幽默 同时近年cg动画在视觉上逐渐往2d和漫画的方向探索而不再是技术淘汰艺术家了 未来可期
如何扭转刻板印象的主题，很娱乐的，很多反转。助人会收获开心确实像是一种说教，但也是可以亲身实践的事实。
果酱荷兰猪一看就是隐藏大反派，反而嘴上叫着自己是坏蛋的一般就是好的，基本上每个套路都被我猜中了，不过，看片过程中还是很欢快的。狐狸州长，真是太有魅力了！
演员谢霆锋挺适合这类角色，线人、男儿本色，都打得拳到肉演得有锋味。
不错，搞笑可爱，价值观可接受。网上下载看的。原本五一要去电影院看，结果疫情导致影院关闭到现在。
因为是陈木胜导演遗作就不评价了 甄子丹那个角色不死掉就真是很无语
（影视区恢复tag后标的第一部）
左派叙事，无甚新意。关于坏蛋变成好蛋的故事，《神偷奶爸》、《疯狂动物城》高明太多。
“坏蛋演好人……”
纵是国语版，也能稍稍穿过配音来到香港实景
“我还是我，只是站在正确地方的我。”
谢霆锋帅疯了，疯批反派太顶了！！！杀黑老大和蝴蝶刀那段，那动作干净利落，快狠准！！！帅到不行了！！！！敖哥，阿晴不要你，我可以！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！阿锋，听我的，收手吧，别做菜了！回来拍电影吧！！港影需要你！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！
恶人从良的故事。前半段是标准的Misson情节，后半段进入了「改造」的处理。大概是想传达没有谁天生想做恶人，人人心中都有良善的种子。《动物城》的代餐。
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