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.
下水沟鼠人+棺材丧尸+硬核机械人+血爆漂亮国
猎奇，cult，血腥，伪纪录片形式将各种元素一网打尽，难得看到一部爽片，看完《钛》，再看这部，从表面来看，人和金属是可以共存的 3.5/5
就挺一般的，负责串起来几个短片的大主线尤其弱智。
几个短片拼凑而成，人×机器人的部分可以做个cult长片，还有那么点看头，足够猎奇。
故事一其实蛮套路的，不过短时间内让记者及摄影师从日常到极度恐慌，还是充满紧张感的；故事二与其说惊悚，不如说有股幽默感，尤其半张脸的眼睛看女主，很有群尸玩过界的喜剧加恐怖的感觉；故事三人体改造还是很带感的，梦回90年代，几次视角的变化蛮有趣的；故事四直接没看进去，不是很喜欢这种拼盘电影的感觉。
除了第三个恐怖版阿丽塔其他的成本也太低了吧
《下水道鼠人》4⭐半，《守灵人》4⭐，《科学怪人》4⭐，《爆炸吸血鬼》3⭐，很吃这种第一视觉的伪记录片，第一视角代入感极强。
我只能说，请忽略我对本片的打分，因为这三颗星对我而言毫无意义。
一般般，甚至个人感觉不如第三部，第三部里至少有个故事比较好，这部里一个喜欢的都没有，也就鼠人还可以，其他都很平庸
没想到这个系列竟然还能回归，虽然整体质量平平。电影定了个94年的大背景，但这不应该成为渣画质的借口吧。四个故事，前两个很普通，第三个清晰度总算比较高，情节也完整，但改造人的设定实在是太老套了，跟《F军团》简直如出一辙。第四个就是垃圾，还顺带讽刺一把红脖子。第三个又是印尼的故事，看了下导演阵容原来是第二部的老伙计了。这次的主线警队突袭毒贩巢穴也是挺无聊的，无非就是为了片尾带出内鬼和VHS教团的设定。总的来说恐惧感也就那样，邪典劲儿依然十足，视觉效果上虽然是伪纪录，但真实感并不算强，晃来晃去也看不清。这次的警察是真惨，联想到《惊悚50州》第一季最后一个故事，话说那个放到VHS里也挺合适的。这个系列堂而皇之的拍这种地下邪典也算是业内特色了，情节只要有创意、不拉胯就不缺观众，这种猎奇题材永远会有市场
几个故事都不错，有创意又cult，尤其机械姬那段，保持了系列一贯的水平
分段式一大好处就是遇到一个喜欢的故事的几率提高了
串场的故事实在是占比太少了，而且主线零散；其实最想说的第三个故事，虽然整体画风上非常的现代与彩色化，但我觉得它在伪纪录的镜头切换上是代入感最强的，而且将那种触摸劣质机械收音设备的质感做出来了，其余三个故事中规中矩，并没有很大的突破点
有点不知所谓，吓人纯靠剪辑，然而并不吓人。真不敢相信这是2021年的电影
以至于现在就记得这几个故事了
相当值得一看的恐怖片，机械姑娘的故事很有《弗兰肯斯坦的军团》的味道。
改造人那个故事最有趣，从恐怖片变成了第一人称射击游戏哈哈哈，吸血鬼那个蠢到令人发指，结尾也挺没劲，一般般吧。
1.新聞工作者真的很危險。 2.守靈夜驚魂。 3.變態醫生和他的戰爭機器人。 4.吸血鬼的復仇。 5.血の錄像帶。 總體來說：1>3>2>5>4
一贯的疯狂摇晃，一贯的狂撒血浆。整体串联的主线故事有点蠢，最后一个关于蠢逼直男的故事略显无聊冗长。其他几个故事分别是：主线-特警小分队勇闯地下录像带催眠邪教老窝，故事1-女记者探寻城市下水道鼠人传说逃出生天，故事2-殡仪馆诈尸惊魂夜卷发妹勇斗半头丧尸男，故事3-疯狂博士人类机械化改造计划，故事4-傻逼直男激进武装分子丧尽天良囚禁虐杀吸血鬼打造终极生化大杀器
果然这个系列才是为纪录片的天花板啊，太爽了，大尺度恒飞，第三个故事机械改造人内个最好看，其他故事都一般，只是怪物的造型都不错
Copyright © 2015-2023 All Rights Reserved
