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.
比想象中要好，可以作为国内小成本软科幻的一个范例了，悬疑感弱了点，别那么快揭晓核心主题的话会更有吸引力。
非常中规中矩，解释的部分也显得太多，伏笔略显苍白
瑕不掩瑜！碍于成本问题，制作明显粗糙，电影感基本可以忽略，录音组蛮大的也不知道为什么声音处理的很差，但好在演员的表演基本在线，尤其男主的几个状态切换是成功的，甚至被博士学历的笑话逗笑了，个人感觉结尾处理的不是很好，开放式结尾可以，但是不要让普通观众看不懂
都2019年的电影了，全是拾人牙慧。悬疑和紧张的氛围全被主演自己通过对话一一拆解，观众看起来就好无趣啊……
4.17在B站看了导演的自述，虽然剧情基本是照着彗星来的那一夜来的，演技也有点挤眉弄眼，但我希望他说的要用心做科幻是真的。加两星。
所有穿越发生的大致时间段：第一天下午女主划船到对岸进入森林到第二天上午，此时基本所有空间女主都在森林中，所以多数可以返回会所而不与另一个自己相遇。
可以学学成熟的悬疑电影配乐，通过气氛的渲染，加之部分紧张气氛的配乐，效果会更好。
奔着雷神而来的，场景很到位，演员表演太浮夸，主题太肤浅，表达不清楚，可能是成本的问题吧，三星鼓励！
人永远不能两次踏入同一条河流，我们想回到的过去，其实已经不是过去的过去了。
作为一个成本只有100万的小制作真的不错。有遗憾也有惊喜。
又是故弄玄虚的所谓艺术片，还要强行带上科幻的外壳。其实老老实实做个悬疑片就好，不要装什么碧格。本质上还是《生死停留》的变种。
彗星来那一夜国产版 国产的缺点就是话太多！！！生怕观众没脑子
算是部好片，框架也可以，看影评说好多看不懂或者感觉电影没交代清楚的，实际上表达很清楚，只是有点强行代入平行概念了，而且是女主代入，女主怎么看也看不出她能懂平行概念，另外打低星是因为女主演技太拉胯了，跳戏严重。
电影平行世界的设定很不错，但是导演不知道怎么填坑。
进入多个不同的平行空间，遇到多个不同的自己+老公+哥哥；
剧情人物的情绪也有点怪。。。
结尾的一抹笑容昭示了女主的黑化。
2021.11.11看完 三星半 国产小成本恐怖悬疑科幻，彗星➕恐怖游轮，女主好像王子文哈哈！找来找去，本来以为博士老公最好，结果发现聪明人很可怕～
我觉得还行，小成本来说算是不错了。一个亮点是，明明回到了自己的空间，却又被老公逼着离开。最后一个空间没处理好，感觉像是表现成亦真实亦虚幻的感觉，但是节奏很奇怪，闪回也毫无意义，然后就莫名其妙结束了。
明显能看到《彗星来的那一夜》结尾的影子。
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