A wealthy San Francisco socialite (Hedren) pursues a potential boyfriend (Taylor) to Bodega Bay, a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people.
- Based on short story The Birds.
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When looking at classic thrillers, it’s hard not to notice the films of Alfred Hitchcock. While Psycho may be his most famous, it’s kind of been done to death by this point (thanks to the creepy Bates Motel (TV) and the shot-by-shot remake). There was another film he was famous for that I’d always wanted to see: The Birds. When it showed up on streaming, I jumped at the chance to check it out. Would it be as impressive as I’d hoped, or had time killed off the scare factor?
Tippi Hedren stars in her first major film role, and does double duty. She has pretty good chemistry with Rod Taylor, and at first, the film seems to be just about the two of them getting together in a whimsical way. Then, when mysterious bird attacks start happening, Tippi does a good job of being both brave and frightened, bringing out another facet of her character.
The rest of the cast is pretty solid as well, with Rod Taylor and Jessica Tandy among the highlights. Rod Taylor does well as the love interest turned protector, and Jessica Tandy (Cocoon, Driving Miss Daisy) shines as a distraught mother/widower going through a nervous breakdown.
While viewers are used to slasher flicks with little plot these days, THE BIRDS will surprise with its more robust plot. While the way the characters come to arrive at Bodega Bay seems a bit of a stretch these days (and now might conjure up a bit of a stalker vibe), it seems typical of a 50’s/60’s romantic comedy. But, then they introduce a former flame, and suddenly there’s a palpable tension thrown into the mix. But, when the bird attacks begin, they really steal the show, and it suddenly becomes a fight for survival, with all the nuances of before being put to the side.
The special effects are quite astounding for a film from the 60’s. The conglomeration of birds is impressive (especially knowing it was done without the benefit of today’s CGI), and most of the sequences look extremely realistic, even now. True, some have that early film vibe of being in front of a backdrop, but for the most part they did an excellent job of blending the birds into the film.
It seems like Alfred Hitchcock is good at blending emotions throughout his film. While The Birds is technically a horror film, there are moments of romantic comedy (the main protagonists meeting, and subsequent re-acquaintance in Bodega Bay), as well as a funny site gag (the love birds lean into the curves of the road at one point) to make the viewer chuckle (or outright laugh) before delving into the horror aspect.
While the film does meander a bit, the solid performances, impressive effects, and overall scare factor (after all, who wouldn’t dread being suddenly attacked by birds for no reason? The sheer numbers alone are overwhelming) make The Birds for a very entertaining watch. Toss in a few laughs, and this isn’t only a good horror film, it’s a good film overall.
