WHAT’S IT ABOUT
A masked maniac with glowing, red eyes returns every Valentine’s Day to terrorize unsuspecting couples.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
This horror-comedy mashup tries something different by blending two unlikely genres, and while it doesn’t quite hit all its marks, it’s still a fun ride. Heart Eyes takes the familiar formula of both slasher films and romantic comedies and throws them in a blender, creating something that’s both familiar and fresh. The story kicks off by introducing us to the “Heart Eyes Killer,” a masked murderer who’s made Valentine’s Day his personal hunting season. He wears a creepy mask with glowing heart-shaped eye holes and has been traveling from city to city for the past few years, targeting couples with a deadly mix of arrows and machetes. After we watch him take out a newly engaged couple at a winery (in proper slasher movie fashion), the real story begins. Enter our main characters: Ally, played by Olivia Holt, is a struggling advertising copywriter whose latest campaign has totally flopped. She runs into Jay (Mason Gooding) at a coffee shop in the most rom-com way possible – they both order the same ridiculously complicated drink. Of course, Jay turns out to be the new hotshot consultant brought in to fix Ally’s failed campaign. What are the odds, right? From there, the movie follows the classic romantic comedy playbook but with a twisted edge. Ally and Jay spend time together working on the campaign, trading witty remarks, and slowly falling for each other. They even pull the classic “fake kiss to make the ex jealous” move. But just when things start heating up between them during a fancy dinner date, guess who’s watching from the shadows? Our friendly neighborhood Heart Eyes Killer decides they’re his next perfect targets. The rest of the movie becomes a wild chase across the city as Ally and Jay try to stay alive while still somehow managing to fall in love. They even get some screen time with two detectives working the case (played by Jordana Brewster and Devon Sawa), who add their own touch of humor to the mix. The movie keeps throwing in rom-com staples – including the mandatory airport scene – while sprinkling in plenty of slasher movie moments to keep horror fans happy. The whole thing is clearly meant to be over-the-top, and the movie knows exactly what it’s doing. It pokes fun at both genres it’s working with, throwing in references that fans will appreciate. There’s even a moment where they make a Fast and Furious joke that flies right over Jordana Brewster’s head (which is pretty funny if you know her filmography). While the concept is clever, not everything lands perfectly. The chemistry between Holt and Gooding isn’t quite as electric as it needs to be for this kind of story. Holt’s performance feels a bit flat, though Gooding manages to bring enough charm to make their scenes work. Brewster and Sawa are fun to watch as the detective duo, but they don’t really get enough time to make a lasting impression. Director Josh Ruben and his writing team clearly understand both genres they’re playing with, even if they handle the horror elements better than the romantic stuff. The movie works best if you think of it as a romantic comedy where the usual relationship obstacles are replaced by a knife-wielding maniac. It’s like someone watched While You Were Sleeping and thought, “You know what this needs? More stabbing.” Heart Eyes isn’t trying to reach the heights of genre-defining movies like Scream or match the clever commentary of recent hits like M3GAN. Instead, it revels in being a fun mixture of laughter, scares, and romance. Though not going to be a classic, you shall have enough fun to keep your interest for the 90 minutes it runs. The best thing about this movie is that it is willing to accept the ludicrousness of its own concept. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, which helps smooth over some of its rougher edges. Sure, watching two impossibly attractive people fall in love while running from a serial killer might not be the most realistic scenario, but that’s not really the point. The movie just wants you to have fun with its weird mix of meet-cutes and murder. For anyone going into this movie, the key is managing expectations. If you’re looking for a serious slasher film or a pure romantic comedy, you might be disappointed. But if you’re up for watching something that plays with both genres and isn’t afraid to get a little messy with its formula, Heart Eyes delivers an entertaining experience that’s perfect for a night when you can’t decide between watching a romance or a horror film.
OUR RATING – A BLIND 7