The Birds (1963)

Genre

Horror | Romance

Director

Alfred Hitchcock

Country

USA

Cast

Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, Veronica Cartwright, Ethel Griffies, Charles McGraw, Lonny Chapman, Doreen Lang, Karl Swenson, Joe Mantell, Ruth McDevitt, Malcolm Atterbury, John McGovern, Richard Deacon, Elizabeth Wilson, Doodles Weaver, William Quinn, Alfred Hitchcock

Plot

A wealthy San Francisco socialite (Tippi Hedren) pursues a potential boyfriend (Rod Taylor) to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people there in increasing numbers and with increasing viciousness.

Opinion

I'm sorry to say it, but this film disappointed me. The Birds is not a film, but the overlap of two completely different films. While the first part is flat and not tense at all, the second part recovers with the raid of birds, which is technically perfect.

However, the film still has several problems. The stubbornness of Melanie to bring to Mitch the lovebirds raised hopes for a thriller turn due to love obsession, but she just turns into a girlfriend. The possessiveness of Mitch's mother is mentioned but doesn't go further.

No explanation to the sudden uprising of the birds is given, and there is no conclusion, and that's somewhat uncomfortable.

The absence of background music is justified: the story doesn't need it since ambient sounds alone enhance suspense.

Great performances are delivered by the whole cast. 

Quotes

Mother in Diner: Why are they doing this? Why are they doing this? They said when you got here the whole thing started. Who are you? What are you? Where did you come from? I think you're the cause of all of this. I think you're evil. EVIL!

Rating

7.0/10