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.
一部可看可不看的电影，一年后肯定也记不得看过这种东西，for whoever invest this shit sorry for ur lost.
合格的商业片 特效还行 麦肯娜很灵 然后没了
没粉过上世纪的Ghostbusters，没有感情分，但整体看是合格的家庭喜剧
虽然这部写得很烂(毕竟编剧不在了)但是等小破抓鬼车响起滋儿哇滋儿哇的声音我的眼泪就忍不住往下掉了。。满满童年回忆啊啊啊！！！
影片很无聊，但是情怀满满，最后齐相聚令人泪目……不仅是感叹岁月的无情，更是80s那么多优秀作品到新时代变成这副鸟样
围攻了半天，就往屋子里面扔了一个手榴弹。就算放一群猪进去都把里面的人拱死了吧
小成本电影，全靠男主打戏撑起全程，最后几段连贯的动作戏有《疾速追杀》那味了，希望阿金斯赶紧主演部A级大片，好好打磨打磨。
30多年后的正统续作，这次是原作导演的儿子集合原班人马，续写情怀。但其实既不吓人，也不够搞笑。末尾曲是Haunted House是Mckenna妹子唱的！
致敬到这个份上，粉丝会喜欢吧。但是剧情和鬼怪设置太扯了，也没有新意，最后搞不清是不是在看怪奇物语。
没粉过上世纪的Ghostbusters，没有感情分，但整体看是合格的家庭喜剧
前边的铺垫还是觉得无聊，后半段还是不错的，情怀也有了高潮也有了温情也有了我差点哭出来。看了小一半了我才发现主角是女孩，小姑娘造型整得跟小谢尔顿似的竟然还挺酷。
挺牛逼的，节奏特快，这个队长给力，一个干一帮人，好看
小女孩真是星途無量，影片打懷舊牌，對普通觀眾來說拼圖少了一塊。
03.12.2021 | @ Regal Majestic | 并不是部完美的电影，但是这是部完美的Ghostbusters的续集。请收下我所有的尖叫和眼泪！可惜我儿Finn真是以肉眼可见的速度在长残。
原版ghostbusters之一Egon Spengler的孙辈开始出来捉鬼了，不仅主角低龄化，从原来四人团均是男性三白一黑，到如今二男二女两白人一黑一亚裔，这很美国2021。
小十一的马仔长大了，也长残了，天才少女又演了个天才少女（年？）剧情方面除了棉花糖小人part有点b级的意思其他部分真是平淡如水啊…时隔多年再次看这个系列又睡着了…
正统续作，还是挺有意思的。情怀拉满，中间打电话就知道老版敢死队会出现，最后还以这种形式全员回归，简直了。。。
虽然这部写得很烂(毕竟编剧不在了)但是等小破抓鬼车响起滋儿哇滋儿哇的声音我的眼泪就忍不住往下掉了。。满满童年回忆啊啊啊！！！
是你能改变事物发展的过程，
首先我想说这个5分是对比今年同类型影片里的给分，带有感情色彩，现在国内小青年看个良心片都直接1-2分走起，真的是白piao还挑刺！几部其它片子看了没打分，但这部的确很解压，战斗场景虽然廉价但不差，这种惊艳感有点死亡录像1时的观隐感，阵亡的豹豹眼角的眼泪这些细节非常加分，阿金斯去年还有一部和龙格尔合作的片也很棒，感觉终于能独挑大梁了，希望之后能越演越好
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