A Valentine’s Day business dinner takes a scary turn when a masked killer mistakes two colleagues as a couple in love. Starring Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding, Heart Eyes is a delightful slasher that takes a stab at the romantic-comedy genre with such precision, seamlessly blending all the best elements of each genre for an anti-cupid romp.
After royally screwing up a campaign at work, Ally (Holt) is forced to do damage control by coming up with a new pitch with the help of hunky advertising whiz Jay (Gooding). However, Jay’s only in town for one night, so they’re stuck meeting on Valentine’s Day.
It’s become a rather anxiety-inducing holiday as the past few years have seen a serial killer known as “Heart Eyes” stalking and brutalizing couples on what’s meant to be the most romantic day of the year, slaying anyone who gets in their way. So when the two unknowingly give the killer the impression they’re a love-struck pair, they’ll spend the entire evening running from a psychopath with a passion for murder.
Directed by Josh Ruben (Werewolves Within), Heart Eyes is a perfect genre-blending, self-aware horror film that’s clever and suspenseful, giving audiences a fun theater experience that’ll have you laughing from start to finish while still delivering some solid frights and memorable gore.
The film has all the trappings of a classic romantic comedy, and it’s immensely playful and witty with how it weaves that in throughout the film. But this isn’t satire. And it doesn’t feel cheap in the humor it supplies. From setting up the perfect meet-cute to seeing the sparks metaphorically fly, it maintains that genre thread even in the third act as stakes are raised.
And just like any good rom-com, it makes you fall for the “will they, won’t they” duo.
Both Holt and Gooding are so charming and radiate chemistry. Even in some of the film’s most ridiculous moments—like hiding from the killer in the van of a stoner couple getting “busy”—you still find their budding romance so endearing. I felt their connection to feel unforced and loved how each challenged the other, while also avoiding most of the tired tropes we see in rom-com’s.
The actors are also no strangers to the horror genre, but I feel this was the film where they shine the most, and I think their effortless banter with one another seals it further.
It should come as no surprise the film was written by horror-comedy aficionado Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day) and Michael Kennedy, having previously collaborated on horror-comedy Freaky. Along with Phillip Murphy, the trio has just wonderfully crafted a tight story that blends everything they love about slasher films while poking fun, or perhaps paying respect, to the polar opposite genre of romance.
But don’t think just because this film is presented like a heart-shaped Valentine that it won’t nail it in the horror department, especially the gore. It certainly makes its fellow February 14th slasher My Bloody Valentine (1981) proud by delivering inventive kills and not holding back by painting scenes red.
It has a killer body count and goes to some insanely fun lengths to make each one iconic. You’ll have a tough time deciding which method is the most sinister, but all have a twisted charm to them. And those memorable moments make it all the more fun when you see it in a theater full of other horror fans, truly a communal experience.
Heart Eyes was one of the most uproarious movie watches I’ve had in a long time. It’s old-school slasher vibes but simultaneously feels so fresh and unabashedly itself. And again, I just think it’s a perfect mashup of two very juxtaposed genres, but it works so well because Landon and co. are so passionate about horror. But most importantly, it does make for a pretty stellar date night movie.
I would be remiss if I didn’t also call out Devon Sawa for his performance. A true ’90s horror icon with the likes of Idle Hands and Final Destination, and it was so great to see him back in a mainstream horror film.
Heart Eyes is in theaters February 7
Jordy Reviews It 
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