What set off the birds in Alfred Hitchcock's classic movie?

[CatWoman]

I mean, what sent them over the edge enough to attack humans?

And why weren't the lovebirds aggressive?

:shrug:

[GOPisEvil]

1. They were eeeeeeeeee-VIL birds.

I dunno - maybe they hated Tippi Hedren's hair. :shrug: It's been a while since I have seen the movie.

I will say this though: Hitchcock picked the perfect location. I went to Bodega Bay a few years ago, and that place is flat out creepy. All that fog and the craggy coastline...yeek.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. They were upset at all the liberal, commie pinko scum Hollywood actors

And just went after them, like the true patriotic birds they were!


Seiously, though - I'm of the opinion we're not suposed to know why. The fear factor is simply that, for some reason, they decided to go on the attack, and that we, as people, ought to be constantly in fear wondering when they might do so again.

[WoodrowFan]

3. Basd on a story

It's based on a short story set in Britain on an isolated farm. The story is even more depressing than the movie as radio stations in big cities like London go silent one by one and the people feel more and more isolated. I don't remember the story ever explaining why the birds started attacking either. The unknown made the story even spookier.


BTW, Hitchcock drops a hint in the movie. In the Cafe scene in the background you can hear the waitress passing orders to the chef, it's all items like eggs or fried chicken LOL.