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The Birds ~ Film Review
If you follow my reviews, you know I’m a huge Hitchcock fan. The man is a master and I literally have not found a film of his that I didn’t like. I’ve mentioned before that the only two films of his that wind up on horror lists are Psycho and The Birds. While some, including me, could argue a few other films should be on those lists, this is the reality. Lucky for Hitchcock, both of his horrors are amazing. You should also know by now that Psycho is the partner-in-crime to Jaws as my two favorite films of all time; I suppose it’s a damn good thing I’m saving horror seeing as my favorite movies both fall in that genre. While The Birds is not quite as good as Psycho, it’s very close. Perfectly cast, beautifully shot, and rife with suspense, this film is a horror classic and one that many could learn from.
The Birds, released in 1963 just three years after Psycho, tells the story of the small California town of Bodega Bay. Melanie Daniels, the feisty daughter of a wealthy newspaper owner, meets Mitch Brenner in a pet store. After a flawless scene of banter and mild flirtation, Melanie makes it her mission to find Mitch and bring him two lovebirds for his little sister’s birthday. Her quest lands her in Bodega Bay, where the wild birds (seagulls, ravens, crows) seem to be going a little looney. Over the course of the film, the suspense builds and builds as the birds become more and more vicious. Melanie…
