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.
一星给景色。衰败的矿区，晦暗的天空，半山腰上的雾。
小男孩真可怜，可以拍部续集讲小男孩长大以后成为温迪哥猎人的故事
剧情太拉了...但是喜欢除了剧情以外的所有😢
电影其实还不错，就是这种害人精女主模板。。
卢卡斯和茱莉都好惨，不仅父母都死了，卢卡斯弟弟也死了，茱莉的哥哥也中招了。都没有调查清楚这个东西会不会传染就去救人，真的会杀敌一千自损八百的啊……
阴冷的色调和还算不错的摄影算是仅有的体面了，剧情薄弱，节奏缓慢，对鹿魔的形象一直藏着掖着，氛围没带起来，到了结尾也是草率收尾。
预告片比正片好看，悬疑气氛不足，借用神话也没有啥特别的发挥，最后，挺小打小闹的！
本能地搜刮了一下希臘神話異鄉中和鹿相關的，想找點依據，只想到陪伴阿耳忒彌斯出現的象徵，「野性」和狄奧尼修斯的半鹿人跟隨者。霧靄迷濛的山村，礦洞裡的制毒工廠，食物只吃腐肉胸腹（一戳就能感染/繁殖），卵借人體營養成熟後破體而出，表徵也是胸腹閃爍紅光—也許因為那是動物身體的中端（四肢中點，最脆弱之處）。不過比起魔，人的因素表現得更多，父親神智彌留之際把自己鎖進房間，即使變異也從未傷害送食物的大兒子；盧卡斯用畫作承載內心的恐懼，但從未沾染過血或毒；老師密切關心著這個孤寂的學生，她殺死艾登是把他溫柔地抱進懷裡從背後捅的刀子；警察吐出血後，明白一切的悲傷眼神。反弒父，不太典型，但真的乏力，文戲多，卻死氣沈沈的。
非常HBO风格的一个故事，是我最喜欢的设定之一，其实画面质感也更偏向美剧，但是这片质量显然不太行，后半段几乎到了滑稽可笑的程度。
第三幕完全垮掉了，不止烂俗而且处理的异常随意。前面的双线叙事处理的尚可，一边是逐渐揭开谜底的限制性叙事，该有的氛围是做到了，另一边则是对观众的全知视点展示，戏剧反讽的张力也有，反而是结尾最常见的“异形”与人的冲突处理的最为失败。5.5/10
美国西北挺适合北欧滤镜 又见闪灵双峰暮光之城同款迷雾冷山森林
真没那么差啊，我觉得还不错，能给个三星半其实
非常HBO风格的一个故事，是我最喜欢的设定之一，其实画面质感也更偏向美剧，但是这片质量显然不太行，后半段几乎到了滑稽可笑的程度。
浪费了这么好的设定，匆匆讲完了一个没讲完的故事……
我觉得还可以，画面黑漆漆冷峻悬疑恐怖的画面风格，特别有北欧小众电影的感觉，可能内容逻辑不是那么说的过去，但总体还算小众好看。
氛围做足，悬念铺够，怪物设计有继承但仍不赖(虽比不上《黑森灵》的惊艳)而剧本就实在太薄弱
怪物的造型和场景氛围很好/海报设计好，剧情崩，基本符合我的心理预期。比较让我消化不良的设定是，这个故事里的魔不是一个可以被摧毁的具象的物体，也不是一个可以造成传染的变异病菌，而是一个抓不住的神话，一个宿主被摧毁，它会马不停蹄地去寻找下一个。对我来说这个设定不是高光点，而是败笔，因为它让我无法对这个故事产生合理的想象或者期待。
段子够讽刺但台词不好笑，用脏话当笑点是一种偷懒。
有些一般了，恐怖氛围也一般，不过怪物造型还不错
影片的基调和画面我还是很欣赏的，有种美国偏远山区小镇的阴冷肃杀风，但剧情就乏善可陈了
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