Thursday, June 13, 2013

The Birds (1963)


A wealthy San Francisco socialite pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people there in increasing numbers and with increasing viciousness.

Paradigmatic horror movie, a master director transforming an otherwise silly premise into a mesmerizing experience, the irony cleverly disguised - very close to a Bunuel scenario. 

Halliwell ***: "A curiously absorbing work which begins as light comedy and ends as apocalyptic allegory, this piece of Hitchcockery has no visible point except to tease the audience and provide plenty of opportunity for shock, offbeat humour and special effects (which despise the drumbeating are not quite as good as might be expected). The actors are pawns in the master's hand."

Maltin ***1/2: "Hitchcock's classic...Not for the squeamish; a delight for those who are game. Hold on to something and watch."


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