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.
推荐是因为在大银幕上看很多场景还是很震撼的，故事方面，范伟老师的角色还是可以打动人的。
拍的不错，质感很好，很优秀，现在的抗日电影拍的越来越好了。
满脸雀斑的女人真够丑的，化妆也不太真实，老太太明显是年轻人演的，那煞笔女的在男朋友极力反对的情形下去演A片被人干真是脑回路惊奇。
突然意识到抗战题材都很适合拍成武侠片，只不过编外的大侠最后只有一个归宿——成为派对一员。
出乎意料，C闲的没事随便翻来看的片子，看前几个镜头就决定等我一起看。还挺有意思，主要是人物塑造挺扎实，故事讲得也不落俗，没把日本人当傻蛋，有好对手才能凸显咱们的英明神武嘛。镜头节奏都可以，有几场戏还挺让人紧张的，没想到是新导演，挺惊喜。对了，色调和美术都做得很好，显得很有质量，电影感足。结尾大战有点拖沓，带着老王也有点不明所以。女性依然是补血的角色，而且各种巧合，也是无奈。白斗篷的设置挺好，要不这么黑，扒车实在很难看清人物。唯一的遗憾，这里面最会说方言的小么哥居然一口京腔，是为了配合其他几个演员么？！
没有性生活是多么可怕。
节奏有些拖，但是范伟饰演的老王镇静地扔手雷头也不回然后挑衅一笑简直全剧最高光时刻，张大爷点燃炸药嘴里叼烟拉低帽沿盖住眼睛无比帅酷
小时候觉得《铁道游击队》好好看，现在实在觉得《铁道英雄》不好看，就是有张涵予也不好看。好拖沓，好没东西。张涵予一身装束几乎是《火线三兄弟》大哥再现，唯独在澡堂子里穿着毛线衣的时候，整个人柔软下来。哦，原来我是这位老师的毛衣粉啊。一人血书求请您别演硬汉了，演点只穿毛线衣的居家男人好吗？！
最后成功完成组织交托的任务。
其实算是一个小故事，但是也能彰显人物的伟大，尤其范围炸黄包车的那一幕，可以称得上是本部电影的高潮
我特么以为是东北铁路，原来只是山东往连云港开，张涵予和范伟演技实在是影帝级，但故事性太差，剧情平铺直叙，一点也没反转和冲突，太主旋律了
老王作为一个卧底，对着敌军点头哈腰的谄媚劲儿，和身份揭穿后的正气凌然对比太强烈了，也很解气，范伟老师的演技真没话说！
和《悬崖之上》的画风差不多，冰天雪地，一群热血党人为了执行一次次任务与敌军对抗，最后英勇牺牲。片子从情绪调动方面不是很成功，看完没让人产生对日军暴行的恨，也没有让人热泪盈眶的激动。看完内心没起波澜，像看了一个似曾看过的故事而已。
3.5 张涵予那一下子确实有点西部牛仔的感觉。
改编是成功的，新时代新表达，也有新的触动，很OK的商业片了，演员里好喜欢好喜欢范伟老师，魏晨也越来越好，越来越有正剧范儿。最后，相信看过电影没有人能抵抗《弹起我心爱的土琵琶》的旋律，有些经典的东西依旧能感同身受。
5.0分。影像上特别有质感，可惜的是也特别无趣。它想走或者本该走的大概是徐克版《智取威虎山》的路子，用武侠片的方式包装一个民间抗日故事，结果走成了低配版的《悬崖之上》，却连基本的起承转合悬念感都没有。《悬崖之上》还只是把一个片子拍成了两个故事，这部电影是把一个片子拍成了一堆情节，单看都还凑合，连起来就很难熬。
几个镜头和段落还可以，但整体还是挺无聊的其实。
铁道间谍们反侵略的生死火拼。这部影片的票房失利，我猜也许因为《铁道游击队》这个红色经典IP太深入人心，造成了观众的刻板印象，所以可能让很多人对这部影片没有兴趣；或者是因为在这个题材方面，观众已经被成龙的《铁道飞虎》伤害了一次，所以期望太高失望太大。但不管是什么原因，这部影片的节奏、以及动作戏都表现不是很好，只有几场文戏还算有些亮点，我想导演更适合拍纪录片。整部片节奏太拖沓、头重脚轻，前面铺垫那么长的人物，最后决战的动作戏就是像美国西部牛仔那种一枪决斗就完事了，没有酣畅淋漓的对决场面，最重要的是让观众的情绪无处安放，像泄气的气球。这也许是合格的故事片，但不是合格的商业片，最后一查发现导演似乎还是个新导演，好像没有拍过几部作品。
插句题外话：这片子里的妆容挺真实的，不像抗太阳神剧里那些浓妆艳抹的妖娆碧池。
老王的智，老洪的勇，鬼子的阴，庄妍的善，所有主要人物似乎都有值得进一步塑造的空间，观感如一披着电影视听审美的抗日卫视剧，神乎的不再只是我党义士，连鬼子的行事逻辑也实在令人迷惑
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