The Birds

The Birds

Synopsis

Hitchcock’s 1963 release, The Birds, is loosely based on and titled after a story from Daphne du Maurier published in 1952. Taking place in Bodega Bay, California, the film follows Melanie Daniels ('Tippi' Hedren) and Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor) as they experience a natural backlash of epic proportions. What begins with an initial seemingly inconsequential attack on Melanie by a single seagull quickly escalates into an onslaught of violent and unexplainable assaults city-wide as the number and types of birds multiply. Eerie and ominous, The Birds explores fear as it relates to the chaos brought on by natural disasters, in addition to the human need for answers. The film features 370 trick shots and is responsible for numerous innovations in special effects and sound.