Heart Eyes (2025)
In what has been a crowded few weeks, there’s been a bumper car run of horror fare. 1/31, 2/7, and 2/21 all have films that aim to appeal to the same audience, reducing their collective chances of breaking out. One of them is quite the odd movie, and I arguably went into it expecting a much darker and cautionary tale than I ended up seeing. You can't be both a serious slasher and a bubbly romance at the same time - Heart Eyes proves this with an intriguing concept and tension set pieces being hindered by rough plotting and a so-so central romance - presenting an ideal take on the Valentine’s Day holiday that seems to perpetuate broad spectacle over constant dependability.
The Heart Eyes Killer (or HEK, for short) is actually pretty neat in concept. Their design (two “heart eyes”) on a mask is flashy yet simple, and the weapons are appropriately themed to the holiday. On that note, it delivers exactly what genre fans are looking for, with there being plenty of blood-soaked kills, ominous voicemails, and ruthless antagonist behavior. However, there’s a twist in here, and it’s definitely one of the weaker ones I’ve seen in the past few months. It’s clear the filmmakers weren’t interested in messaging a notion around Valentine’s Day by it and the positive ending, looking to avoid cynicism that’s sparked by the holiday. Good for it, I say, but be warned, if you’re looking for nuance and depth - this film is not it, presenting some of the most cookie-cutter romances I’ve seen all year.
The lead duo, Ally (Olivia Holt) and Jay (Mason Goofing), undeniably have flair to them, working off each other excellently as they attempt to survive a night of carnage. The film’s emotional arc lives and dies off of their energy, and it's a strong, undying one. While the setup does feel a bit forced (both in the same workplace), it nevertheless manages to be memorable.
However, “Heart Eyes” is partly weakened by corny dialogue, and it’s as if romance was dragged down to water-room politics. Throughout this, I just kept finding the dialogue funnier and funnier. Everything from engagements to kinks is talked about in this, and it just seems like everyone in this world is heavy on romance, and for a movie titled “Heart Eyes,” I guess that's to be expected.
Overall, Heart Eyes is a fine date night flick that makes itself unique by being a “romance slasher,” combining a B-level romance narrative with an A-grade slasher concept. Is it extraordinary? No, but it sure will make for a heartthrob’s ideal flick.
Where to Watch: In Theaters
