Birds of a Feather...Flock Together

Rating: Null/10 (20 August 2000)

Hitchcock does it again...he takes the seemingly ordinary and mundane in life like a simple act of taking a shower in Psycho, the familial relationship of Niece and Uncle in Shadow of a Doubt, and, in this picture, the natural, friendly relationship of commonplace birds with mankind - and turns them into nightmarish scenes. In the Birds, Hitchcock displays his gargantuan talent for creating and sustaining suspense. On the Californian coast, for some inexplicable reason, birds begin attacking people. Hitchcok uses this backdrop to showcase the story of a family and a visitor, Tippie Hedren, in the midst of this unnatural phenomenon, This film is a pleasure to watch because it is so well-done. Hitchcock's direction is superb. The work with the birds themselves is amazing as thousands of real ones were used with mechanical ones. Quite impressive. The acting is first-rate with Rod Taylor, Suzanne Pleshette, and Jessica Tandy in attendance. Easily my favourite scene is the one when the townfolk are in the diner....talking about the rumours of the birds...and an elderly woman begins to expound on the genial nature of our feathered friends...only to have her words simplicity shattered in moments. A great film based on a story by Daphne Du Maurier.