Shoehorned into this film-thanks to appearances from an earnest ornithologist and hippie tree hugger-we get sincere explanations of how climate change is fueling wildfires, avian flu, and the spread of spruce bark beetles, among other calamities. At least Birdemic gets high marks for its environmental nuance. Not that you could tell-the attacking GIF-like birds hover in place, waiting to be shot out of the sky as if we’re watching a dystopian game of Duck Hunt. But I became antsy waiting for the killer eagles and vultures to show up and was glad to see them finally pecking, clawing, and pooping their victims to grisly deaths more than halfway in.
The robotic acting, uncomfortable dialogue, terrible sound, and strange edits offer a laugh during the belabored first half, as protagonists Rod and Nathalie embark on a maximally cringey courtship.
Considered one of the worst movies this century, Birdemic: Shock and Terror is a cult hit that fully delivers on its “so-bad-it’s-good” promise.
