In Heart Eyes, a meet cute gets bloody in the latest slasher to take on a holiday. The result is something fantastic that horror fans will love.
In the film, a marketing contractor named Ally (Olivia Holt) flubs a big Valentine’s Day ad campaign because she’s too busy being upset over a recent breakup. To salvage the campaign her company brings in high-level consultant Jay (Mason Gooding) for some fresh ideas. Initially, Ally has tons of resentment against Jay, but after seeing her ex at a restaurant, she pulls Jay in for a kiss to make him jealous.
Unfortunately for them, that very moment is seen by the Heart Eyes Killer – a sadistic murderer who kills happy couples every Valentine’s Day. Now convinced that Jay and Ally are a couple, they become the killer’s new target. What unfolds is a brilliant, scary, and hilarious slasher movie that’s both an ode to rom-coms while also ripping their tropes to bloody shreds.
Here are my *spoiler-free* thoughts on Heart Eyes, and why it’s a must-watch movie.
Heart Eyes is a True Horror Film
My favorite part about Heart Eyes is that it's a true horror film. With its Valentine’s Day focus, the film obviously has romance in its veins and has a lot of fun poking at rom-coms and playing with their cliches. But, just like Scream, Heart Eyes never forgets that it’s still a horror movie.
The kills are genuinely bloody (super bloody actually, gorehounds will certainly approve), the Heart Eyes Killer is truly terrifying, and the scenes create tons of suspense. Don’t be fooled by the premise, Heart Eyes is a fantastic slasher film that continues the genre’s legacy and has a rightful spot as an instant classic.
Heart Eyes is Also Hilarious
Few films can balance the meta brilliance required to both parody genres while also creating a genuinely good horror movie. Heart Eyes manages to walk that tightrope and does so incredibly well. I’d honestly argue that it’s one of the best meta horror movies out there, on par with iconic films like Cabin in the Woods, Scream, and Behind the Mask.
Its smart parody of rom-coms and its brilliant self-aware references to horror never take away from the fact that it’s a scary movie, but instead add in tons of comedic breaks, creating a perfect ebb and flow of comedy and horror. A great example of this is how the two detectives (played by Jordana Brewster and Devon Sawa) are named Hobbs and Shaw, clearly poking fun at Brewster’s hit franchise The Fast and the Furious.
The Verdict: 9/10
Even if you’re single, or not the type of person who celebrates Valentine’s Day, Heart Eyes is a must-watch. It’s honestly one of the most fun horror movies I’ve seen in a long time, bringing back the kind of fun, fast, and quirky 90s-era Kevin Williamson vibes I haven’t seen in a long time.
Whereas A24 has set a precedent lately for horror films to play out more like dramas with undertones of social commentary, Heart Eyes is a return to the fun, the silly, and the bloody. It’s just a damn good time, and that well-made simplicity feels like a breath of fresh air.
Heart Eyes Rating: 9/10