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.
“豫大人，不要忘记了，你是大清的官员。”
难得的一部电信诈骗犯罪的片子，骗子的套路和演技以及行骗的热情，看了觉得很可怕，现实生活就是这样的吧，希望天下无骗! 配角金贤秀把骗子的张狂和变态演活了……
没想到这么耳熟能详的故事还能拍出花样来…比想象中好看！
人性其实是复杂的，明明都是手足同胞，却可以残忍的看着别人深受毒品的折磨
有点老美的个人英雄主义色彩，不过总体还是蛮不错的，对于大众防骗还是有很多借鉴意义的。
6.5 该说不说雀实不错，谢苗接了一个好电影，基本没有硬伤，有点武侠片那味了，时长合理没有多余情节，结局很棒，主角团没人死，很多这类题材都喜欢结局死几个好人凸显壮烈艰难，但属实没必要，我就喜欢这种结局
有大学生的青年贷就是当大大学生最痛苦的。太可怕了
丰富丰富内容，多加点钱，主演再斟酌一下，拍个6到8集的迷你剧不成问题
故事线简单进行的太快 约汉子的打斗戏给五星
某些玻璃心根本不适合看电影，别人说什么做什么都事濡你？
后半部分太扯了，诈骗组织哪有那么大能量，身份说查就查到了，假
拍的还行吧，这不算抹黑吧，电信诈骗中日韩都属于参与人群众多，相互串连跨国诈骗也多，而且这是一部韩国片，你能想像一下，我们拍什么湄公河行动的时候，如果缅老泰三个国家警察出境多，又帅又猛的在镜头前晃荡吗？而且人民币出境显著，我还想加分呢
谢苗的动作还是很伶俐的，希望能有更好的剧本出演！
还行，林公的民族大义，各方面比较简单，随便看看打发时间还行。
我就问，从齐天大圣到东北警察，谢苗什么时候🔥
之前一直没怎么关注过谢苗，直到看完《目中无人》后惊叹于他的打戏，所以就马不停蹄地把本片也给刷了，结果，又被香到了..首先这个切入点就很聪明，我们都知道林则徐虎门销烟，可我们并不知道这一历史事件背后有多少血泪。本片以动作片为引，挖出来的实则是极为深邃的东西。个人感觉很好，四星奉上，反正不管怎么说都不可能是这个搞笑的6.2分。
如果在怎么诈骗上多花手笔就好了 这结尾是想要第二部吗 别了吧 不好拍
整体没什么出色的表现，但电信诈骗专家的表现还是能留下一些记忆点的。
武打片看的是个爽，这个就像是没有任何剧情铺垫的特级情se片。
动作设计尚可，表演普遍浮夸，狗血桥段不少，网大里算可看，谢苗这也是演了这么多年的网大，始终出不了圈，也是可惜
Copyright © 2015-2023 All Rights Reserved
