Cupid’s Gone Mad: “Heart Eyes” Is a Valentine’s Nightmare You’ll Love | Review

On the surface, there aren’t many points of contact between horror films and romantic comedies. When you analyze it carefully, you can find some similarities between these genres, because the gap between the genres sometimes disappears. I recall that during my film studies, we saw the real trailer for “The Notebook,” followed immediately by a fake trailer for “The Notebook” as a horror film, with scenes and sentences that suddenly took on a different, creepier meaning. There are, of course, also films that try to combine these genres and prove that love not only dies but can also kill. When this combination does happen – as we saw in a special article we wrote on the subject – there is potential for enjoyable films, even cult films, that you can even watch on a date or with your wife (name withheld), who typically stays away from horror films like fire and prefers to force her unfortunate husband to watch romantic comedies with her.

Anyway, when I heard about “Heart Eyes,” I was hoping that, for a change, I had found a movie that I could bring home for a date night. I knew that my wife would simply refuse to say no to a screwball romantic comedy in the purest sense of the word, which even quotes scenes from classic romantic movies, just because of a minor detail like the fact that it features a serial killer who kills couples in love, right? After all, nobody is perfect.

In the end, of course, I saw the movie alone, curled up in a blanket with the dog I had dragged out of bed in the middle of the night again to watch a film in a language he didn’t understand, with noises that scared him. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. “Heart Eyes” is a humorous and somewhat surprising slasher featuring young and charismatic actors, a well-crafted serial killer, and a few supporting extras. Not everything is perfect here, in cinema as in love, but we have found a fine film for fans of bloody romance.

What Is Heart Eyes About? Like A Romantic Comedy, Only In A Horror Film

The scene that opens “Hearts Eyes” very quickly defines that you should not take this film too seriously. We join the couple in the happy moment of a marriage proposal, which goes wrong. The first time, because the photographer called to announce that he was unable to capture the proposal on camera, so they had to retake it. The second time, someone shoots an arrow in the head of the intended husband and then chases after the new fiancée and ruthlessly smashes her body.

In the meantime, we understand the backstory: it turns out that in recent years, there has been a serial killer roaming around different cities in the United States, killing couples on Valentine’s Day (men, please don’t dare to forget that Valentine’s Day is on February 14 every year. Don’t ask how I know). This serial killer is known as the “Heart Eyes Killer” or “H-E-K” for short, since he wears a mask with red hearts for eyes.

After several murderous campaigns in other cities, the killer comes to Seattle, where the film takes place. He murders two couples in romantic places – a winery and a spa (men, try mentioning this when the woman asks you for a romantic experience together) – the heroine fears that he will come to her too. Fortunately, she is currently single after a long relationship, so she is not in a high-risk group. Apparently.

Our heroine is Ally McCabe (Olivia Hoult), a pitch designer at a jewelry company whose manager is a bit of a nutcase (Crystal Cane, “Warewolves Within”). Ally is reeling from a sad breakup with her partner, turning her into his social media stalker. She meets a handsome guy named Jay (Mason Gooding) at a coffee shop, who orders exactly the strange drink she’s drinking. But like any romantic comedy, a lot of things go wrong, their heads clash more than once, and she leaves the place in disgrace, only to be humiliated at her job. It turns out that in a time of murders of loving couples, proposing a marketing campaign that glorifies death (“Till Death Do Us Part”) and includes homages to Bonnie and Clyde or Jack and Rose from Titanic, is not such a good idea. Ally discovers that to repair the damage she’s done, her boss has decided to enlist the help of a brilliant advertising consultant. If you’ve seen one romantic comedy in your life, you can guess who that consultant will be. Yes, a movie like “The guy I met by chance and had a weird moment with, just happens to show up in my life again,” like, say, “Can You Keep a Secret?” (which I saw with my wife, and also because it stars Alexandra Daddario.)

The two go out to dinner, trying to talk about ways to save the failed campaign, but Jay seems a little too interested in Ally. Without going into too much detail, they fight and are on the verge of blowing up that evening. Still, then Ally sees the mythical ex from afar, and does what romantic comedies are supposed to do at such moments – she sensually kisses Jay, who doesn’t say no. The two somehow end up at her house, for different reasons than you might think, and I was glad to find out that there’s someone in this world who’s messier than I. Anyway, after a little over half an hour of a movie that followed the formula of a romantic comedy (except for the opening scene), she discovers that there’s someone in the closet wearing a mask with heart eyes who wants to murder them. From that moment, when the heroine exclaims in panic, “Fuck!”, the film transforms into a bloody slasher. The two will try to fight for their lives, together or separately, and of course also try to find out who is behind the murders, and why. To the film’s credit, even in these moments, it maintains a sense of humor and even hints at romance.

At the same time, we encounter several other characters who, as is tradition, become potential suspects for the seasoned slasher movie viewer. We meet, among others, Ally’s best friend (Gigi Zumbado from the TV series “The Rookie” and “Bridge and Tunnel”) and the pair of investigators Hobbs (the legendary Devon Sawa, “Final Destination,” “Idle Hands,” “Black Friday”) and Shaw (Jordana Brewster, “The Faculty,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning,” “Cellar Door”), whose names, of course, correspond with the “Fast & Furious” films, in some of which Brewster starred. Several other characters receive limited screen time, but perhaps enough for us to suspect some of them, and some who are murdered.

Here’s the trailer for “Heart Eyes”:

The Humor Of Heart Eyes

Before we even address the question of whether “Heart Eyes” works as a slasher, it’s essential to emphasize that this is a humorous film, often hilarious. The chemistry between Holt and Gooding sparks romantic interest, as well as humor, especially when they attempt to convince the killer or killers following them that they are not a real couple. There were some amusing scenes in this context (“We are not together!… Go kill someone else!”), although the film could have gone more in the direction of a comedy of errors, based on the idea. If you like, more scenes in the style of “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil,” a brilliant comedy in which young people suspect someone of being a serial killer following a chain of coincidences.

“Heart Eyes” operates with full awareness of both horror cinema and romantic comedies. For example, there is a scene worn out of romantic comedies in which Ally chooses clothes for a “date” with the help of her best friend, in which the clothes are references to comedies like “Clueless” and “Pretty Woman” (full disclosure to save my self-respect: I didn’t notice this myself, because I watch horror films and not romantic comedies) or a monologue that consists of the names of romantic movies. There is also the very worn-out scene of the heroine-going-to-the-airport-before-her-beloved-gets-on-a-plane, which seems very torn and disconnected from anything, in a conscious and parodic way, I assume. I would have liked more parodies and jokes that relate more closely to slasher narratives, rather than just romantic comedies.

Another Masked Killer For The Collection, And A Pretty Good One

The appeal of slasher films also depends on how effective the killer character looks. “Heart Eyes” can largely score a “V” in this regard as well. The killer’s mask was designed by special effects artist Tony Gardner, who has created masks for some of the most notable slasher films of recent years, including “Freaky,” “Happy Death Day,” and “Totally Killer.”

It’s not that the killer is terrifying, and he may remind you a little of other villains we’ve grown up to fear (for example, a few “Jason Voorhees” elements). Still, the mask and overall appearance are certainly memorable and fit the film’s overall theme. There are some brilliant features in his appearance, such as the red eyes that glow in the dark against the background of the yellow mask.

A few years ago, director Josh Ruben created “Scare Me” and “Werewolves Within,” a comedy about a werewolf (supposedly or not) who slaughters the inhabitants of a small town. This film was entertaining at times but also loud and annoying at times. In “Heart Eyes,” he stated that his goal was to build romantic moments that would remind you of Nora Ephron (who wrote “When Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail,” which she also directed), alongside scary moments reminiscent of horror legend Wes Craven (“A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Scream,” “The Men Under the Stairs”). Ruben stated that he wanted, for example, the killer to adopt the famous walk of Jason Voorhees from “Friday the 13th,” who manages to walk at the pace of an old turtle but still catch up to his Usain Bolt-like victims. Another desire is not to necessarily focus on severed organs (although the film has some), but to make the violence fun and dark without tormenting the viewer.

Behind the script are some very skilled names in the resurgence of slasher comedies. The film was written by the duo Michael Kennedy and Christopher Landon, who collaborated on “Freaky,” “It’s a Wonderful Knife,” and “Time Cut” – along with Phillip Murphy (“Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard”). You can recognize Landon’s fingerprint for the simple reason that Landon also deals quite a bit with love and its connection to horror (the latest example is the fun “Drop,” which we wrote about on the site not long ago). When you see the names of these creators in the credits, you can raise your expectations, and Josh Ruben may now join the list of interesting names in horror cinema.

So… Who Is The Killer In Heart Eyes? (No Spoilers)

It’s hard to say that “Heart Eyes” is too scary, because its horror is mainly based on jump scares and bloodshed. The number of murders in it is relatively limited and focuses primarily on the killer’s attempt to chase those he thinks are couples and not necessarily killing stupid young people one after the other.

There are murders here, and even some cool ones – including a mass murder scene in a very romantic location – but in my opinion, this part of the film is a bit secondary. We mainly get the comedy build-up in the first part, some fights and chases in the middle part, and the fight against the murderer or the murderers in the last part, after we understand who is under the mask and what their motives are.

Here, unfortunately, the film falls short, as is often the case. To me, slashers are essentially like an episode of “The Masked Singer”: the judges (the viewers, and sometimes the characters in the film) come up with names of potential suspects that look blown up on paper, with a deep analysis of the clues they want us to believe they were thinking of at that moment. In fact, in most cases, what is revealed beneath the mask is a celebrity who is far from well-known, whose clues were anything but related or clear. It is rare for slashers to provide added value in the reveal, truly, and “Heart Eyes” also misses the mark because, perhaps, somewhere beneath the surface, it was possible to find a truly brilliant idea or even one with some depth.

The motive itself is bizarre, although it ties into the film’s general atmosphere and theme; however, it seems somewhat random about the relevant characters or what we have seen before. The revelation in the last part creates significant gaps in the body of the script, raising some problematic questions that are difficult to answer.

When A Screwball Comedy Becomes A Pretty Crazy Horror

In one of the Better scenes of “Heart Eyes,” the killer chases the heroes to a drive-in, where a screening of “His Girl Friday” is taking place in honor of Valentine’s Day. This choice is not accidental, and not only because Howard Hawks’ 1940 masterpiece, starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, is one of the most essential comedies ever made.

The success of a romantic comedy depends mainly on the chemistry between its actors, which should be there beneath the surface even when they make every possible mistake, or even discover a relationship of hate that turns into love. The classic romantic comedy evolved mainly from the “Screwball Comedy” films, a film genre that emerged in the 1930s and gave birth to several masterpieces. Frank Capra’s “It Happened One Night” is considered the first screwball comedy film, followed by other classic comedies such as “Bringing Up Baby,” “Some Like It Hot,” and, of course, “His Girl Friday.” Without going into too much detail, these films combined farce, slapstick humor, quick and witty dialogue, and humor based on mistaken identities and lies.

“Heart Eyes” combines some of the most prominent elements of screwball comedies, and you can certainly define it as such (as some professional critics have done) – even if it deviates to some extent from the classic formula of romantic comedies in general, and crazy comedies in particular. Ally and Jay are similar in several ways, such as the strange drink they drink, and there is chemistry between them from the start; that is, there is no classic narrative of contrasting couples who hate each other until they fall in love. Their perceptions of love or the world itself differ, and this gives rise to some successful dialogues. Don’t expect many polished and brilliant dialogues here, like those found in some of the classic films I mentioned earlier.

Chemistry Is Not A Dirty Word

What elevates the film are the performances of the two leading actors and, of course, the chemistry between them, which is remarkably successful, even when viewed through the lens of a romantic film. Olivia Holt is doing a great job, and it will be interesting to continue following her. Holt began her career in several Disney series and movies (“Kickin’ It,” “I Didn’t Do It,” “Girl vs. Monster”), progressed to more mature roles (such as in Jessica Biel’s thriller series “Cruel Summer”) and also incorporated other skills, such as singing (she has so far released four mini-albums, 12 singles and almost 20 music videos) and theater (she played the character of Roxy in the Broadway production of “Chicago”). So it’s true that what interests us is her horror career – which mainly includes the successful role in “Totally Killer”, in which she played the younger version of her mother in the heroine’s time travel – and in this context, Holt is a beautiful scream queen, whose role in the film suits her perfectly. She is charismatic, has a sense of comedy, and also manages to arouse sympathy.

The male side of the story, as mentioned, is Mason Gooding, the son of Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. (known for his role in Cameron Crowe’s “Jerry Maguire”), who does a great job here as the man of dreams. Gooding, who broke out in Olivia Wilde’s “Booksmart” (who will also soon star alongside him in an erotic thriller called “I Want Your Sex”), we have already seen in several horror films. In the well-made survival film “Fall” (2022), about two girls who get stuck on the edge of a communications tower, he appeared in a small role as the boyfriend of one of them who dies in an accident at the beginning of the film, and who is mentioned in the plot in a particular twist later. In “Scream 5” (2022), “Scream 6” (2023), and soon “Scream 7”, Gooding has a more significant role, playing Chad, one of the Meeks-Martin twins. Gooding should be given a place of honor in the horror world for managing to survive two films with the Carpenter sisters (Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega), and even survived the terrible thriller “Y2K” alongside another annoying actress, Rachel Ziegler, who murdered Snow White.

Something works in the dynamic between these two, and you can give them credit. It’s not that these roles are more emotionally complex, but the natural charm of both actors, their comedic sense, and their chemistry explain why, when they are not on screen in romantic scenes, the film loses some of its momentum.

Should You Watch Heart Eyes?

We can argue that “Heart Eyes” is more successful as a horror comedy, and even a romantic comedy, than a horror film by definition. It’s a funny film featuring two talented actors who, for a change, have genuine chemistry between them. It has elements of a proper slasher, including a memorable killer and some impressive kills. Still, on the other hand, it also has problems – mainly a problematic third act, which is unconvincing in its twists and the way it connects to the overall narrative.

I recommend “Heart Eyes,” especially if you’re into horror comedies, looking for a romantic date movie, or trying to convince your wife to watch a horror movie with you for once since you’re always watching average romantic comedies together. It’s still unclear whether we’ll get a sequel, given that the film was a success but not a blockbuster (grossing about $33 million worldwide against an estimated budget of about $18 million). However, I’m all for it. After all, it’s important to keep love alive.

Heart Eyes (2025) – Frequently Asked Questions

Who directed Heart Eyes? The director of the film is Josh Ruben, known for “Scare Me” and “Werewolves Within”.

Who plays in Heart Eyes? The film’s cast includes the talented Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding in the leading roles. Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa, Jordana Brewster, and Yoson support. 

Who wrote Heart Eyes? Christopher Landon, Michael Kennedy, and Phillip Murphy wrote the script.

How long is Heart Eyes? The length of the film is 97 minutes

When was Heart Eyes filmed? The movie was produced in the United States and New Zealand. Filming took place in New Zealand.

What is the MPAA rating of Heart Eyes? The movie is rated R for intense violence and gore, language, and some sexual content.

Is there nudity in Heart Eyes? Nope! We have two sex scenes, but nothing is shown.

What languages are spoken in the film? English, Hearts symbols

Is there a post credit scene in Heart Eyes? Yes, there is an end credit scene, something like two minutes after the movie credits start rolling. It’s more funny than scary, or hinting at a film sequel.

When was Heart Eyes released? The official release date of the movie in the United States was February 7, 2025. It was a week before Valentine’s Day.

What was the budget of Heart Eyes? The estimated budget of the film was $18 million.

How much did the movie gross? The film grossed approximately $33 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

What do the reviews say about Heart Eyes? The reviews of Heart Eyes are positive. It currently has a 6.1 rating on IMDB. On Rotten Tomatoes, 78% of the critics gave it a positive review.

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