A new Czech horror film titled Snare of Evil (Uzel zla) is set to premiere in local cinemas from Oct. 2, 2025. The first teaser for the film, released last week along with initial poster artwork, introduces a chilling tale of a bus tour gone terribly wrong.
Directed by Jan Haluza, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jakub Volák, Snare of Evil follows a group of strangers on a themed Valentine’s Day excursion to sites of mysterious murders in the Slavkovský Forest in western Bohemia—ominously nicknamed “the snare of evil.” What starts as kitschy horror tourism soon spirals into paranoia, supernatural terror, and emotional breakdown.
The story centers on Veronika and Mirek, a couple attempting to rekindle their relationship. Mirek books the macabre trip as a romantic gesture, but things quickly take a darker turn after Veronika finds a strange doll and begins to sense changes in both her surroundings and her fellow passengers. As tensions rise, the group begins to suspect that an ancient Slavic revenant, Navka—also known as Morana or Smrtholka—may be haunting them from beyond the grave.
The cast includes Sabina Rojková, Janek Gregor, Ivan Lupták, Valérie Zawadská, Ivana Uhlířová, Petr Uhlík, and Jan Jankovský. Among the eclectic group of travelers are Alex, the jittery tour guide; Ludmila, a retiree and crime novel enthusiast; Honza, an extroverted aspiring TV reporter; and an older married couple whose strained dynamic serves as a cautionary tale for Veronika and Mirek.
While the premise blends elements of horror and mystery, Haluza emphasizes the film’s darkly comic tone. “We’re bringing a bit of humor into the genre, along with a range of characters so that every viewer can find someone to identify with,” the director says. “Our protagonists treat the trip like a game, an emotional thrill ride. They lack empathy for the real tragedies they’re commodifying—and that blindness becomes their downfall.”
The film is rooted in Slavic mythology, drawing on the folklore surrounding Navka, a vengeful spirit said to be the ghost of a young woman who died prematurely—often due to betrayal or violence—and returns to haunt the living. Haluza describes the entity as “an ethereal presence whose piercing cries echo through the forest,” casting doubt on whether the group is simply losing touch with reality or truly being stalked by a supernatural force.
Shot on location in foreboding autumn forests, an old village pub, a church, and even a disused foundry, Snare of Evil uses its environment to heighten the atmosphere. The cinematography is by Viktor Smutný (Božena, Svět pod hlavou), with music by Ondřej Brousek and production design by Anna Pospíšilová.
“Even when there’s no more doubt that people are dying around them, our characters keep looking for rational explanations,” Haluza adds. “They can’t admit the danger is real. That denial—our inability to process fear in a media-saturated world—was one of the main themes we wanted to explore.”
Snare of Evil is produced by Fénix Film in cooperation with Flamesite, NK Art Production, and Fresh Lobster. It is distributed by CinemArt and received support from the Czech Audiovosual Fund and Czech Ministry of Culture.
