The Birds

Trevor Tillman

Unrelentingly macabre in the depths into which it sinks. So much so for 1963, that I imagine Hitchcock felt emboldened hot off of Psycho's success. Like his other major works, it's as encoded and unreal as a dream, lending itself to the notion that we're really seeing Ms. Daniels' idle fantasy. Appropriate that the spectacle is conjured by anxiety, both maternal and filial, around leaving the nest.

Zac Weber

Some of Hitchcock's favorite themes are on full display here, particularly the unpredictability and moral disorder of everyday life. This is a psychoanalytic smorgasbord.

Lynch/Fellini

I am ornithiphobic, so I was careful and nervous going in. But I found this to be therapeutic and ended up being entertained by it. Plus the "birthday party" scene is so absurd and funny!

Hikaru

Yet again, Hitchcock pushes the envelope and creates his formally purest film. Actually, the seemingly pointless story of Melanie and the Brenners' relationship is the real story here and the birds are the mechanics that perpetuate it. However, this film is radical in that the mechanics eventually take over the story (with vengeance!) and becomes the main focus.

sapta

The lack of explanation makes this terrifying. Seeing several gifs of the dated effects of birds attacking, I had always assumed this movie would be hilarious or boring. Quite the contrary. It's horrifying.

Jake Cole

Hitchcock distilled, with his predilection for upheaving lives extrapolated onto nature itself, the bird attacks all the more terrifying for their meaninglessness. Hitch's chaos cinema, down to the nihilistic screwball of Melanie hopelessly trying to warn the locals after the school attack. Perfectly crafted, intensely disturbing and (in the subtle quest for family) oddly moving, it's Hitch's purest film

nargs_au

absolute classic. not only story wise but also from a technological standpoint.. was one of the first films shot almost entirely using a yellow screen. if you haven't seen this. i suggest you do.

Phil Worfel

This was the first film that I saw as a child where I clearly understood the meaning of suspense. Birds on the playground. You know the scene. Unbearable tension.