Although I liked this film, I was disappointed in the ending. It felt like the movie had a plot-less ending. What was causing the birds to attack? According to IMDb, Hitchcock didn't want any explanation of what happened and said "If you provide an explanation for the phenomenon then the film becomes science fiction; we're not making science fiction, Birds is a thriller, hence we leave out any explanation." He called this a MacGuffin, which he defines as "The plot device, of little intrinsic interest, such as lost or stolen papers, that triggers the action."
So what do you guys think? Do you think that the movie would have been more satisfying if the cause of the birds behaving wildly was revealed or do you prefer it to be a mystery?
I think the idea of the unknown is what makes it scary. People tend to find an explanation for things that are scary to them because they want an answer as to why it's happening. But not having an answer is what frightens people because it perhaps makes them feel powerless knowing that there are things that do not have explanations and things they cannot control.
ReplyDeleteBut the idea of The Birds really reminded me of the recent news events of birds suddenly dying in Arkansas, Louisiana, etc. These birds were supposedly behaving very weird and residents woke up to hundreds of them dead. Of course people wanted explanations, but so far as I know, some actually don't have a conclusive explanations to the happenings. I think one said it was blunt force that killed them. But no explanation as to why they were killed with blunt force in the first place except perhaps hitting the ground.
It's all a mystery. It doesn't necessarily frighten people at this moment because the birds aren't attacking people, but the idea of the unknown is what makes it mysterious and slightly unnerving. So I guess that's why Hitchcock made it that way with no explanation.
I agree, Hitchcock gave the viewer the ability to almost make their own ending. Although it was a bit frustrating to have all of that suspense built up with the birds making it into the house and injuring Melanie only to have them walk out in the end.
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