Day 10: Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963)

 

Environmental horror is a subgenre that was a result of the creation of nuclear power and weapons. Most of the movies made in this category featured large monsters, giant insects or reptiles that attack mankind.
The Birds is based on the short story written by Daphne Du Maurier. The movie retains the essence of the story which is the attack on civilization by birds. The setting is 1960's Northern California. Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) is a young socialite from San Francisco. She has a chance encounter with Mitch (Rod Taylor) who assumes she is a sales clerk at a pet store. Melanie has been written about in social columns for her antics abroad which Mitch uses to get under her skin. Melanie angered by his comments decides to pay him a visit in Bodega Bay. She wants to deliver a gift, a pair of love birds.
Melanie's arrival at Bodega Bay appears to be the catalyst for many bizarre occurances involving birds. Children are attacked by birds at a birthday party. The next day the birds congregate at the school yard and attack the children again as they try to escape into town. People take refuge at a restaurant while the birds reek havoc in town. Melanie is accused by a woman for being the cause of the attacks.
Melanie and Mitch's family secure his house for the night. They are safe for the time being. Melanie wanders upstairs and is attacked by the birds. Mitch finds Melanie and brings her downstairs to be tended to by his mother. Mitch decides they should leave the house. They drive away in Melanie's car leaving behind the house surrounded by birds.
The Birds examines different issues such family dynamics, the suspicion of strangers and societal norms. Nature turning against mankind is often used as an allegory. In The Birds it is never quite clear why they attack. The ending is left open to interpretation.