Josh Ruben’s (Scare Me, Werewolves Within) Heart Eyes is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for horror and rom-com lovers alike, a gory, blood-soaked bouquet that’s wrapped with wit and clever humor.
The film pulls off the near-impossible, blending slasher thrills with a wink and a smile that playfully satirizes and embraces the conventions of both romance and horror in equal measure. Ruben’s direction effortlessly channels the haunting tension of classics like Halloween and Friday the 13th, while delivering the tongue-in-cheek cunningness of Scream and the sharp, playful energy of Freaky and Happy Death Day (the latter two being previous projects of Heart Eyes‘ co-writers Michael Kennedy and Christopher Landon). The result is a film that keeps you squirming in your seat, unsure whether to laugh, scream, or both, as it strikes the perfect balance between terror and humor.
At the heart of the film lies the enigmatic Heart Eyes Killer, a dark cupid who’s been terrorizing unsuspecting couples on Valentine’s Day for the past two years. When coworkers Ally (Olivia Holt – “Cruel Summer”, Totally Killer) and Jay (Mason Gooding – Scream franchise, Y2K) share a mock smooch to spark jealousy in Ally’s ex, they unwittingly become the target of the killer’s twisted obsession. Caught in a moment of mistaken affection, they are thrust into a deadly game of survival, desperately trying to convince their would-be executioner that their connection is anything but romantic.
Ruben’s masterful direction keeps the tension tight, balancing blood-splattered chaos with inspired romantic humor. He knows exactly when to twist the knife—both literally and figuratively—and when to let the audience pause for a breath, offering up a well-timed comedic scene.
Holt and Gooding’s on-screen chemistry was a surprise love affair in itself. As a reviewer who typically cringes at forced romantic subplots in horror films, I found their dynamic, born from the killer’s hilarious misunderstanding, refreshingly entertaining and beguiling. Their slow-burn camaraderie, forged amid the carnage, becomes the beating heart of the film, making the chaos around them feel all the more palpable. It’s a refreshing take on romance in horror, grounded in survival rather than the usual sappy clichés.
The supporting cast adds plenty of flair, with Devon Sawa and Jordana Brewster standing out as the witty, no-nonsense cop duo, Hobbs and Shaw. Their dynamic injects much-needed fun and levity into the investigation as they dive headfirst into uncovering the truth behind the bloodshed.
But perhaps one of the most memorable aspects of Heart Eyes is its killer mask. Ruben’s design—a sinister mash-up of the heart eyes emoji, Smiley, and Leatherface’s masks—is as disturbingly absurd as it is horrifying. The mask’s unsettling contrast manages to conjure both terror and off-kilter quirkiness, perfectly mirroring the film’s tone, where the humor is just as sharp as the blade.
In a genre where slasher films often risk becoming formulaic or predictable, Heart Eyes stands as a bold, inventive entry. With its creative kills, a sure-to-become-iconic villain, and chemistry that pops, Heart Eyes is a bloody good time for both horror fans and rom-com lovers alike.
VERDICT:
Heart Eyes hits theaters on February 7, 2025, just in time for a killer date night.
