Not PSYCHO (spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (17 December 2001)

Hitchcock intentionally omitted the words "the end" from the conclusion to give the impression of unending terror. Unfortunately, the lack of any resolution or conclusion to the story leaves the entire picture wanting. Granted, Hitchcock frequently ended movies without what some might call a "satisfactory" conclusion (or even a "happy" ending), such as VERTIGO, but there was always some type of resolution. The fade-to-black at the end leads one to think that the director and/or screenwriter was at a loss as to how to resolve the story, or did not wish to attempt an ending. I could make several suggestions; and this may, in fact, be what Hitchcock wanted us to do all along.
Nonetheless, it isn't PSYCHO (the picture to which it is most frequently compared). It's a good Hitchcock movie with excellent special effects for 1963 and a workable storyline, but lacking any type of resolution, I have a hard time giving THE BIRDS very high marks.