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.
借于“欧美血腥怪异变种”的外壳，，讲了一个惊悚的中国故事。
#国产恐怖片在让人失望方面从来不会让人失望
看到后面又扯上鸦片了，还什么病毒，遗传病，情节太扯了，烂片...
拍摄手法很棒，情节流畅不拖沓。亲情封建等元素，丰富电影内容！在网络电影里算是很棒了！分类在恐怖类，作为恐怖电影爱好者，觉得恐怖分量不是太足...
逻辑硬伤太多，女主颜值演技都一般，既不恐怖又不县级
项氏兄弟拍的网大很有自己的一套，越来越好了。强剧情大女主历险记。网大都用心拍，前景会越来越好。
前半部分悬疑，后半部分动作，唯独没有惊悚（不知道是不想走这个方向还是不会拍），剧情也十分之尬。女主的演技和颜值carry全片相当吃力，里面可圈可点的是一直说着莫急莫急村长。
女主演技不错，布景简陋了点，小怪物也挺惨。
这么多童工还让童工制造鸦片，活该你被活生生的咬死！故事还算感人，但还是感觉欠缺一点什么，作为网大，可以拍的更吓人点，让人认像更深刻点！！！
剧情好草率，不觉得战斗精彩，只觉得是一堆光影垃圾，One for All和谁都能五五开，最后还来强行升级，，，
开场感觉还不错，莫名有以前港片室内景的带入感，然后故事铺开就有点俗了，美术是用了心
故事还可以，就是这个拍摄手法乱七八糟的，不停的醒来，搞的以为是看盗梦空间呢
套路，但是动作场景爽得不行；期待不高，这样就行了。
也就那样，消磨时间的无意义作品，纯粹是闲的，要是几年前应该会很喜欢，现在已经不了。
不要看评论，直接去看，挺好看的！特效还行，剧情很感人！我都哭了，就够了。
战斗场面真漂亮啊，几乎全程汗毛竖起（deku果然是理想型 重回蜜月期了
披着恐怖片的皮，其实是禁毒亲情片。
最后多少还是有被燃到了…掩盖了孱弱的剧情。
长镜头的完成度确实很高，看得出来经费很足，制作方面没什么问题，但和前两部剧场版一样，剧情还是很粗糙，尤其是细节方面（就比如boss战时洛迪从男主背后冒出来真的很突兀），不过这种作品仅仅只是为了赚钱做出来的，所以在细节方面没那么多讲究，反正硬燃就对了，效果还是很显著的，相信有不少观众都会被吸引，这部剧场版和前两部比起来更具美漫风格，感觉这部就是为了开辟美国市场做出来的东西，说得通俗点就是要赚老美的钱，不过这倒也能理解，毕竟在国内已经被封杀了，反人类作者自然要寻找另外的财路赚钱，这作者够恶心，能和骨头社合作算是它上辈子修来的福分
看过还不错，上半部分剧情还是非常紧凑的，下半部分有点太突出女主角的个人英雄魅力了，整体来说摄影道具还是非常好的。
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