The Birds.

The Birds is considered Hitchcock’s last great movie, but also as an end to the build up through his other movies. Birds are used as a consistent motif throughout Hitchcock’s films, particularly in the film previous to Birds, Psycho. The movie is based on the short story by Daphne Du Maurier, about a flock of birds that attack a small, idyllic, seaside town in England, causing devastation throughout. In Hitchcock’s version, the film is set in Bodega Bay and San Fransisco, and was filmed in 1963.

The most interesting concept in this film for me, was the unknown. There is no explanation for the bird attacks, and no resolution. I find this horrific in a way, as we are unable to help the situation at all, we cannot help to stop. Some people consider the film an apocalyptic film, and I can see clearly why. The birds’ attacks are consistent and never-ending, so people believe that this is the end of the world. The birds are interestingly not birds of prey, but they are everyday birds that flock to cities and towns across the UK and America. Gulls and Pigeons are the main culprits in the film, as they become manic and dive-bomb into buildings and people. It is undeniably a bizarre film, but taking something from everyday life and twisting it into something dark and harmful is terrifying. I can admit I have never looked at birds the same way after watching it. I don’t think that it would have had the effect it did on me if Hitchcock had used birds of prey, as they are creatures that we are not so open to, and don’t necessarily see often. The fact that it is just ordinary birds is scary because there are so many.

After completing some research, I found the reason behind the inspiration for the story of The Birds. It was in fact a real occurrence, but not on a deathly scale. Thousands of birds in Monterey Bay flew into the walls of buildings in the summer of 61, all dying as they hit the buildings. This must have been a really horrific experience, as technology was not as advanced, so they had to wait for the answer for quite a while, not knowing if this was going to occur again. The answer to the birds flying into walls was because they were disorientated, caused by a nerve-dancing toxin. In the film, we are left not knowing whether the birds are here because of a similar reason, or if it’s an apocalypse, a punishment for humankind.

Hitchcock uses many film techniques to increase the dramatic tension in the film. In the opening, the film is bright and colourful, leading the audience to feel relaxed and happy, wondering where the horror is going to come into it. This contrasts the ending of the film, which uses a lot of shadow, with a cold filter on the camera, and a lot more darker colours to create a mysterious and eerie feel to the film. Hitchcock uses the colour green to create a feeling of uncertainty, a trait that is used throughout most of his films. Many characters wear the colour, and the scenery at the beginning is full of lush green grass and trees, which sets the film up for the audience to not know what will happen. As the main two characters are in the bird shop, the birds here seem friendly, and not harmful. This also backs up this uncertainty for the viewer. I found the beginning of the film interesting because of this use of colour and lighting.

For my film, I want to try and use colour in the same way, symbolic for the audience. I think that this enhances the viewers experience watching the films. I would like to embrace black and white footage, as I believe this will seem like the dancer’s colour has drained out of her life. I think that the colouring will be of a limited palette, such as black and neutral, warm tones. Black is symbolic for power and control, and for me to use this colour in my film will symbolise how the dance has full control of the dancer. I think that this will be effective in enhancing the viewing experience, and boost their emotional connection to the film.

 

Wikipedia (no date) The Birds. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birds_(film) (Accessed: 10 December 2015).