In school, I read "The Birds" by Daphne du Maurier, and it was an interesting tale where unexplainable execrable events occur. The birds of the sky suddenly start attacking people with no explanation. Alfred Hitchcock takes this short story and adds a plotline to make a feature-length film.
Hitchcock is a master of suspense. He does it in many ways, but it's unique in that there's no score... just silent tension. Now, I'm a lover of movie scores. I listen to them consistently, and I usually post one on our Facebook page every Friday. That being said, this creative choice blazons the feeling of discomfort and anxiety about what is coming next. The setting helps contribute too. The majority of it takes place in a bay, so all types of birds are around including seagulls.
Even though I've read the source material, I wasn't too sure what to expect. How would this film in 1963 successfully have a bird invasion without the modern use of CGI? CGI is an easy out for many filmmakers today even though practical effects sometimes look better. However, Hitchcock did not have the option. The answer for a flock of birds is... real birds and then props. Through trained birds and realistic props and camera tricks, it looks real. Many of the real birds could never be released into the wild because they were trained to swoop at people. You can't have real attacks.
The main actress, Tippi Hedren, debuted in The Birds. Her first film ended up becoming a cult classic. The studio actually lied about her age but not because she was too young. She was in her 30s, and critics would've claimed she couldn't start a career so late. It sounds ludicrous to most people these days. Some famous actors started late including people like Morgan Freeman. The point is Tippi was great in her role, so I'm glad figures like Hitchcock didn't care about the norm.
The only warning I'll give isn't really a criticism. It's a slow start to the movie. Don't expect action to take place quickly. The buildup is good, but it takes time. Be patient.
Overall, I really enjoyed this horror flick and recommend it to others. My film rating is an A-.
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