Interesting

Rating: 7/10 (9 August 1999)

The Birds has the usual Hitchcock touches. A chase, guilt, interesting camera technique and birds. The story starts out innocently enough, with birds acting weird. They soon start attacking people and gradually their attacks escalate in ferocity. What I liked about the movie was the way Hitchcock built up the tension leading to the attacks. He didn't unleash his villians until about half way through the film. In that time we get to know the characters in the peaceful town of Bodega Bay. Once all the introductions are in place, the birds start their rampage. I enjoyed the way the birds lighted upon the playground equipment as Tippi Hedren sat on the bench. The choice of no score was interesting. The soundtrack is filled with the screeching of birds gone mad, and for a nearly forty year old film, it still holds up well. I would like to see The Birds done as a special edition DVD, see if they can boost the sound up to what Hithcock would have wanted.