Unsettling Apocalyptic Hitchcock - Totally Memorable

Rating: Null/10 (2 July 2004)

The Birds - one of my favourite Hitchcock films - is based around a young socialite/prankster (Tippi Hedren) who sets her eyes on a sexy lawyer (Rod Taylor). She follows him to Bodega Bay with a couple of caged "Love-Birds" and is herself, followed by flocks of Birds. When I was young and watched this - I thought it was fairly cheesy - with non-convincing special effects - but good for a bit of a squeal. But recently watching it again, from an adult perspective - I found it quite apocalyptic and unsettling in the way it brings up ideas of environmental damage and man against beast. The way Hitchcock devises tension in this film is quite memorable and fantastic. I love the warped "Bird" soundtrack - which just adds to the surrealness of it all. Unforgettable - and also - watch out for a Hitchcock cameo at the start of the movie!