2nd Personal Film Review

film title:  The birds 

Year of production: 1963

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

The film is set in San Francisco, where a socialite pursues a potential boyfriend. When birds suddenly begin to attack and kill people with increasing numbers and viciousness.

The first scene which impressed my the most is when Melanie Daniel is sailing across the bay. This is the most impressive scene due to the mise-en-scene of the back drop painted by Albert Whitlock. Also the cinematography of a wide shot and low key lighting (generic conventions) gives the scene a feel of isolation. The second scene that impressed me was Lidia finding the dead man.The silence and no use of sound makes the scene tense. By using a tracking shot, however slower than her walking, with low key lighting give the scene a feel of suspense. The quick cutting from props, of dead birds, back to her face shows her emotion and fear. The close up of the man with no eyes (body horror) also adds the fear and horror. 

The Birds has helped me understand the genre using a genre checklist and seeing what elements are within the film for example fast moving monsters (the birds). Many aspects of mise-en-scene are seen creepy location (Mitch’s house), body horror, the man with no eyes and low key lighting to create the scary atmosphere. The characters are also conventional, male hero (Mitch), female victim (Melanie). The cinematography used where point of view, this is used when Lidia is looking around the room of the dead attacked man., there are also many close ups in the scene as well both conventional shots for the genre. A common theme is sex and the taboo, this is seen with in the Birds, as Mitch and Melanie have sex out of word lock, which in the time of the film was a big taboo. 

Aspects of the Bird that i would consider using in my trailer would be the small amount of body horror, however when it is used its effective and not over the top. I would also use the use of sound too add fear at let the cinematography lead the emotions. I would do this by using quick montages, collision cutting and close ups. I would avoid the amount dialogue used due to me making trailer and will not excite and draw people to watch my film. The most enjoyable part of the films was the attacks, the loud sound of the birds added fear and panic which i will be able to recreate this in my trailer i will be making. 

You can see Alfred Hitchcock’s after style and personal feelings in the Birds from the sound/no sound he uses. ‘the silent pictures were the purest form of cinema’ is a quote by Alfred Hitchcock. You can tell he believes this as he represents this in his movies. Three scenes that you can see/heat his after influence are the attack on the man, when Mitch’s mum runs away also the final scene when he is getting in the car and the small piece of sound used is louder to add fear and suspense. Finally the last scene when they're hiding in the house from the birds.