2. In this shot, we can see the opening title, and a black bird, which might connote
death. Not much is going on in this shot and little is given away about the
significance of the birds. In this scene the bird seems tame and controllable, however
this is right at the beginning of the film, there is a sense of prolepsis here as the build
up of suspense starts here, everything starting from this scene is building up to the
shocking climax.

3. This shot is typically dark and the tree behind Mitch is in silhouette,
the lighting is dim and half of Mitch’s face is in shadow creating a
chiaroscuro effect. His suit is black and the scene generally looks
quite mysterious.

4. There is something unsettling about the lack of light in this shot, the room
behind Annie is pitch black again bringing the usual connotations of death,
the unknown and mystery. Hitchcock has deliberately used less light to
create a shadowy, dark and mysterious effect that brings more suspense
and we don’t know what could be lurking in the shadows.

5. The birds completely dominate the scene showing that they are completely
out of control and Mitch's mum and the rest of the family are at mercy of the
birds, the humans are greatly outnumbered. The birds have the upper hand
in this shot and they are clearly attacking Mitch's mum, and the medium
close up reinforces this.

6. This scene is highly disturbing and graphic and introduces elements of
horror, it was zoomed in using an eerie jump cut, the black hollow spaces
where the eye used to be are extremely spine-chilling, and the close up shot
definitely reinforces this, we are forced to look at his dead body in more
graphic detail which is terrifying for the audience especially younger
audiences.

7. Here, the scene is a stark contrast from the chaos and horror of most of the scenes, it is
made to be calm and relaxing, as a breakaway from the deaths and destruction the birds
are causing as the two ladies have a ‘mutual understanding’, heart-to-heart scene, it is
more cheerful with a background colour of yellow and it gives the audience a false
sense of security, misleading the audience into thinking the storm has past when
actually the worst is yet to come. So when the terror and havoc of the previous scenes
return the audence may be thrown with surprise, it gives the film spontaneity.

8. This blurred shot indicates the action and fast-paced motion of the scene, a lot is
happening, the seagull looks threatening as it has managed to scare 5 fully grown
women, despite the fact that it is only one. The blur of the shot also suggests the
havoc and riot that the birds have caused.

9. This shot is also blurry and it is a close up of her face, we can see that her coiffed
hair has been ruined and despite the fact that she inside a phone box she is still
panicking and frantically swatting away birds which suggests the sheer extent of the
destruction and capacity of the birds’ to wreck. The fire in the background adds to
the chaos and shows just how powerful and damaging the birds can be. They are
literally capable of destroying the town and all its people. This could possibly
question the audiences typical perception of birds, and challenge their so-called
‘innocence’.

10. This scene is sad and sombre and is also when the lighting of the film is at its
dimmest, possibly connoting the gravity and sombreness of the situation. The
blood is convincing and the fact that her eyes are open make her injuries much
more frightening. We feel grief for Melanie as she is the protagonist, so we feel
most attached to her, this possibly makes her ‘untouchable’ and never in any
danger however the audience are thrown again as the film ends with this strange
unexpected twist. Hitchcock doesn’t favour the audience he forces the audience
to go along with the plot and accept it. He doesn't give them what they want and
hence keeps to the mystery of the thriller.