The Birds (UK)

Alfred Hitchcock's unexplainable horror tale about nature going berserk has long become a classic. The imposing imagery of the birds, the fabulous cast of the movie featuring Tippi Hedren in her first feature film role, Rod Taylor and Jessica Tandy, and the eerie sound effects used like musical cues, create a shuddering tale of terror that has not lost a bit of its impact over the years. Even after repeated viewing, "The Birds" remains a chilling and apocalyptic film that has viewers on the edge. Hitchcock's skills as a dramaturgist and his perfect mastery of suspense in movies fully pays off in this movie, to the point that the fluttering screeching birds slowly take over the entire perception of the viewer as he plunges into this incredible movie.


As I had hoped, Universal Home Video's release of "The Birds" is a beautiful and meticulously created special edition. Not only does it feature the movie in a flawless presentation that is beautiful to behold, it also gives viewers the rare opportunity to learn more about the genius that was at work behind the camera. For every fan of Alfred Hitchcock the insight offered in the workings of the director on this DVD are invaluable.

But even if you enjoy the movie mostly for its terrifying sake, this DVD is a beautiful release that should find a place in every DVD collector's library.