as perfect a movie as can be made

Rating: 10/10 (5 September 2013)

Many have pointed out what they see as shortcomings of this film. No explanations for the avian assaults, an ambiguous ending, heck it doesn't even have a soundtrack.
But these omissions are its unique strengths. The total lack of explanation leaves you uneasy. The non-ending leaves a disturbing and uneasy situation unresolved. The missing soundtrack leaves you with pure, unadulterated atmosphere.
In fact, in adapting Du Maurier's short story, Hitchcock deliberately stripped-out the elements that made sense of it.
Possibly, the only borrowed element is the pacing, which follows the slow, brooding menace punctuated with action and terror of John Huston's Moby Dick.
Even the most formulaic and conventional scene - the siege on the Tides restaurant, is staged uniquely and brilliantly.
In a sense, The Birds is a highly experimental, avant-garde anti-movie, and to that end it succeeds brilliantly. Everyone whose seen it, remembers it vividly, hauntingly.
Lets hope nobody ever tries a remake.