“Every time I watch it, I find myself more impressed with its daring, audacity and command of its material. I love the way Hitchcock juggles shrill B-movie histrionics with chill arthouse gloss. I love the formal precision of his camerawork, the deft economy of Evan Hunter’s dialogue and a sense of location so sharp and assured that I feel that I’ve been there, stood on that jetty and made the walk around the headland.”

“It’s complex and fascinating – yet it’s also difficult to watch The Birds nearly 50 years after it was made without a more than passing judgement on its portrayal of women as The Birds attack.”