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.
先打分:三星。
国产动画目前的情况是，制作水平参差不齐，少数顶尖的很棒，大批劣质的特差，不在一层阶梯。★☆/3.6
不过不失 节奏不错的动作片 母爱 母女 这个话题历久常新 女主貌似坚毅女性这个人设是要做到退休的了
这个故事很套路，我们已经看过无数遍了。技术也很不过关，特别是在看赔偿清单这一块，完全是凌空看书？树都是贴皮的，人物很脸谱化，没什么代入感。镖师是一个很辛苦的职业，恐怕是没法童趣和儿戏的。这个项目唯一的优势在于主人公的形象，再加上又是虎年。杨标师太路人了，二当家设定可以再讨喜一点。总之这个项目具备了成功的条件，纵使套路大纲也可以讲的有趣，可惜了很不用心。
及格了。但问题很多，1，商业电影的主角可以不可爱，但一定不能讨厌，小虎墩很讨厌。2，定位不清，给小孩看太成人，给成人看太小孩。3，打斗极为难看，曾几何时，我们的打斗是世界第一，现在远不如欧美日本。4，那个最终BOSS出现太过的突兀，以及，他为什么要帮帮主演戏？
确实是部烂片，剧情设定老套，其实就是讲了一个为了女儿而变成了一个毫无人性的母亲的故事。
没想象中的那么爽，冰面穿行，虽然比步行快点，但是没有掩体啊。 末日了都，还两派斗争，我还以为要打外星螃蟹呢！
前半部分还不错，尤其是冰上行动的部分，后面有点太浅白了
滑冰深入敌后的想法还挺棒的，不过剧情比较弱，背景也交待不清楚。
第一次发现“神奇拖后腿”是个好词，回想就觉得好笑。很值得亲子观看！
结局比较套路，过程不够精彩，全程比较闷，没多少令人眼前一亮的场景，所以一直走神。女主前后矛盾，开始不考虑世界毁灭女儿的安慰，后来发现女儿不在基地又说这是保护女儿的最好方法，叫人无法共情。演员演的很卖力，演技也很好，穿越冰面时的场景跟独特，很美。但是无法掩盖剧本的空洞。中规中矩的一部作品。
西方人真心坏啊，只要是为了家人，毁掉一个集体，一个团队，一个国家，都是政治正确，所以自私自利，见不得别人好。
冒死送的却是致命的病毒，来消灭全物种的，和现在的新冠怎么这么相似？
给小孩子看，估计还算不错，但是剧情有显得复杂了。
留着一口气只为了自己的孩子。
最无语的是一开始在杀人，碰到这对母女就不杀，抓走然后就变成很牛的士兵，参加莫名其妙的行动，是送快递，送能毁灭世界的生化武器，何必呢都这么牛了，直接跟敌人说不投降大家一起死不是来得方便？
剧情不错，缺点就是结尾有点仓促，还有就是女主的脸我一时适应不过来，别的基本没什么缺点。
在奈飞看的，说是2022年最牛科幻不准确。
大家都好严格哦，我觉得这片子不错。没交代太多背景，简单粗暴直述任务过程，我看着挺爽的。至于缺点嘛，就是立意不够高远。要真有生化武器，你现在毁灭了也只是推迟而已，并不能拯救世界。何况如果对方提前用了呢？所以结局才显得圣母且生硬。不管如何来看战争还是太残酷了。
确实是部烂片，剧情设定老套，其实就是讲了一个为了女儿而变成了一个毫无人性的母亲的故事。
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