It should come as no surprise that I’m highly critical when it comes to horror — especially my slashers. I loved “Scream VI,” yet hated “Thanksgiving.” John Carpenter’s 1978 “Halloween” is one of my all-time favorites, while the “Terrifier” franchise makes me want to abandon the genre altogether.
On Feb. 7, actor-turned-director Josh Ruben delivered “Heart Eyes,” a self-described horror-romance that follows new coworkers Ally (Olivia Holt) and Jay (Mason Gooding) as they head out on Valentine’s Day to plan a marketing campaign — only to be mistakenly targeted as a couple by the Heart Eyes Killer. This masked murderer has been terrorizing couples on Valentine’s Day for three years, picking a new city each time. This year, it’s Seattle’s turn.
This might sound like a plot that is bound to be full of tropes — and it absolutely was — but here’s the twist: I loved it. While not a flawless five-star film, it’s a hilarious, blood-soaked ride with a sense of humor and a fun take on modern dating.
Holt and Gooding had great chemistry throughout the film, and I was happy to see Holt in a bigger role again. Gooding has been in the most recent “Scream” movies, but Holt has not appeared in much since her Disney days. However, I’ve been rooting for her since she starred in “Cruel Summer,” a thriller television series from 2021.
The dialogue veers into cringey territory at times, but in a way that feels intentional, playing with romance movie clichés much like how the original “Scream” mocked slashers. Unfortunately, reciting my favorite line would be a spoiler, so you’ll just have to go see for yourself.
With a screenplay co-written by Michael Kennedy of “It’s a Wonderful Knife” and “Time Cut,” the film leans heavily into genre conventions — something that some viewers took issue with. For me, it worked. There was the reluctant, workaholic woman who does not want to fall in love with the sweet, heartthrob of a man, the masked killer and the ineffective police department. Within one of the first scenes of the film, there is even an ode to “Halloween,” where we see the killer’s point-of-view from inside the mask — a personal favorite technique.
What truly makes “Heart Eyes” stand out from other films is its seamless balance between rom-com and horror. As Letterboxd user @HailleyDiCaprio put it, “I’ve never seen a TRUE mashup of the rom com and slasher genres before!!! Props to the filmmakers for committing to making it actually BOTH.” Meanwhile, @abbyjwright summed it up more simply: “just dumb and fun…”
Despite these qualities, I was not the biggest fan of the ending. I probably would have given it a five out of five if it ended right where I wanted it to, but I understand that it would have been too easy to do so in the sense of story structure.
Look — the acting won’t blow your mind, the cinematography was nothing new and the soundtrack won’t be stuck in your head for days. But did I have a blast watching it? Absolutely. “Heart Eyes” is a gory, comical and surprisingly charming addition to the holiday slasher canon — one I’d happily revisit in theaters.
4 / 5 stars…or Heart Eyes rather…
ajones11@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of Sony Pictures
