Welcome back to 1 out of 5 – Would Recommend, where the worst of the worst get the praise they deserve. Today, we’ talking about 2008’s inexplicable rip-off of a Hitchcock classic, Birdemic Shock and Terror.
What’s The Plot?
Rod, an inexplicably successful and completely uncharismatic software salesman turned green technology entrepreneur, falls in love with struggling newcomer/Victoria Secret cover model Nathalie. Then poorly animated birds attack and murder people by the (literal) busload.
What “Genius” Made This?
James Nguyen, a wealthy software salesman turned tech entrepreneur turned filmmaker. That was one turn too many and like Tommy Wiseau he’s proof that talent in business doesn’t translate to talent in film. His mastery is allegedly of “romantic thrillers”, and since Birdemic is the only one of his movies to gain any notoriety, he must not be quite as bad at those.
Which is the faintest of praise.
Five Reasons to See It
- The birds. The poorly animated, barely composited, largely stationary birds. The exploding, acid spitting birds that sound like WWII-era dive bombers. Plan 9 had better special effects.
- Script called for the heroes to fend off birds with shower rods. Motel they filmed at didn’t have any. Thus, they used…wire hangers! Don’t tell Joan Crawford.
- An original song that totally should have been nominated for an Oscar.
- The movie’s lonely, frantic, apocalyptic setting is really hurt by the cars leisurely passing our heroes on the highway.
- “It’s the human species that needs to quit playing cowboy with nature. We must act more like astronauts, spacemen taking care of Spaceship Earth.”
Recommendation
When Alfred Hitchcock made a thriller about birds turning on mankind, he tied live animals to Tippi Hedren until she had a nervous breakdown. It’s an all-time classic. When James Nguyen wanted to rip-off that movie, he had actors halfheartedly swat at GIFs with coat hangers. This too is an all-time classic. The movie demonstrates a lack of competence that goes beyond that of even the most inexperienced video production student and it is amazingly funny for it. If you’re so inclined, RiffTrax makes the movie even funnier and their version is great if you can’t convince any of your pals to watch the movie with you clean. Either way, check out Birdemic: Shock and Terror!
NEXT WEEK: Five Canadians with a little money and a lot of special effects skill bring the world 2011’s Manborg.