This review was made possible by Popped receiving an advanced screening of Heart Eyes.
A slasher with a shtick? Everyone’s got a gimmick now! Holiday-based horror films seem to be a new trend with recents like Thanksgiving, Silent Night and even Terrifier 3. So how well does Heart Eyes, a new Valentine’s Day flick, stand against the rest? Is this new flick worth a swipe right, or will audiences be heading straight for the block button?
Love At First Sight?
Heart Eyes is a rom-com styled slasher that follows the annual return of the Heart Eye Killer as he sets his sights on the lovebirds of Seattle. Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding lead as Ally and Jay, one a hopeless romantic and the other just hopeless. In an attempt at striking up a relationship through the smooth request of a “work dinner,” Jay and Ally soon find themselves in the crosshairs of the Heart Eyes Killer after being caught imitating a couple madly in love. The idea of merging romance with horror is no new concept for 2025, with Drew Hancock’s Companion also offering a combination of the two.
From there they band together, barreling through Seattle as it become flooded with romance and mutilated corpses. This unlikely pair is held together by a strong chemistry that develops throughout the film. Both fit into their roles well and understand their dynamic, having only known eachother for a few hours. They have to learn to work together rather quickly to avoid a bolt.
Olivia Holt is surely the standout here, coming from humble beginnings on the Disney Channel and Freeform’s Cloak and Dagger. In recent years she’s started to ease into the horror genre with films like Totally Killer, and now Heart Eyes. I think Holt has real potential as a scream queen, as she excels in this film. Holt delivers a fun performance that is amplified alongside Mason Gooding.
While Gigi Zumbado doesn’t have a large role in the film, she does make quite the impression. She’s Ally’s chaotic best friend who will go to any length necessary to help her friend. She is also incredibly funny, having a few moments where she steals the show from Gooding and Holt.
Does ‘Heart Eyes’ Offer A New Genre?
Is rom-com-slasher a genre? Does that exist? Well it does now. Heart Eyes perfectly blends both of these genres. The film is easily able to commit to both. A slasher when it wants to be, a rom-com when it needs to be.
The rom-com comes in moments of development between Jay and Ally. The two learn more about each other running from a serial killer than they did on a first date. It’s campy and it’s cheesy, but manages to never overdo it. What you won’t expect is just how funny the movie is. With a serial killer wearing a mask with heart eyes, you have to know when to throw in a laugh. This is also in thanks to Holt and Gooding’s exceptional performances – the two shined the most when caught in a states of peril, chased by a crossbow-wielding loon.
There’s never a drastic shift in the tone either – when it wants to be a slasher, it never feels sudden. The R-rating is used well here, but definitely could be pushed further. That being said the film does include some truly gruesome kills. Heart Eyes packs a mean punch, one that you can feel in your seat. They can get a little creative with a few of their kills. There’s one kill almost right off the bat that sets the tone for the film incredibly well.
Behind The Mask
Without going into spoilers, the film has an ace up its sleeve, something that can only be compared to Scream – which would make sense with Christopher Landon and Spyglass as producers. It is something that you may see coming, but even then catches you off guard. I think it puts a nice spin on a common trope. It saves the movie; it ties it together so incredibly well that without it, this movie falls flat.
The film also does a good job at bringing its serial slasher to life. Heart Eyes is an imposing figure who moves with a ton of weight. You can really feel his movements and just how heavy his footsteps are. He’s got a rather simple look, besides the mask, but director Josh Ruben brings him to life well.
‘Heart Eyes’ – Final Thoughts
Heart Eyes is a campy, cheesy, and brutal birth of a new subgenre that playfully weaves between its two genres. Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding play well together as they try to outrun an anti-cupid hellbent on killing them. It’s got fun kills, it’s got laughs, and if you’ve got no V-day plans anyway, you should go and check it out.
Heart Eyes releases in theaters on February 7. Check out the trailer below!
