THE BIRDS (1963) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Alfred Hitchcock

Written by - Evan Hunter, Daphne du Maurier

Starring - Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, Tippi Hedren

"A wealthy reformed girl enjoys a flirtation with a lawyer and follows him to his home in Bodega Bay. However, the place soon becomes the setting of an unexplained attack by flocks of birds that invade the town. 

Alfred Hitchcock’s film begins as a light hearted romantic comedy, but then develops into an apocalyptic depiction of horror. It is interesting to note that more than being firmly planted on structured storytelling, the Hitch leaves plenty of grey areas in his set-ups and pay-offs. 

In this way, this approach makes The Birds arguably the film which, out of his filmmography, seeks a more active involvement by the viewers, who are welcome to come up with their own conclusions and also see the birds as McGuffins, or a huge metaphorical extension of the film's themes of sexuality as well as thought provoking reflections on the aura of paranoia inspired by the Cold War, which reached a peak during the time of the film's release in 1963. On the other hand, the sheer mystery of the events that take place on the screen add to the desperation of its characters, hopeless victims and helpless in the face of their own demise. 

With use of ground breaking effects and effective stylistic choices, among them the lack of music which makes the sound of the birds more haunting and the build up of suspense even more daunting, The Birds is still one of the most chilling films ever made."

Horror, USA