“Heart Eyes” Review – A Horror Romance That Flirts with Greatness but Fizzles at the Finish

Love and horror don’t often go hand in hand, but Heart Eyes wants to sweep you off your feet—before dragging you into the dark. Mixing rom-com charm with slasher sensibilities, the film winks at genre conventions while spinning its own quirky tale of infatuation and fear. It’s a bold flirtation with greatness, but like an awkward first date, some moments click while others leave you checking the time. The question is: does Heart Eyes spark a lasting romance with audiences, or does it ghost them before the credits roll?

– “Heart Eyes” is a Valentine’s Day horror flick about a masked killer who targets couples on Valentine’s Day.
– Filled with hilariously skewed rom-com conventions, comedic turns, and characters such as a lusty cop and sugar baby, the film offers creative depictions of love along with a clever mix of absurd and pulpy violence.
– Despite the cliches, the chemistry between the lead characters Ally (Olivia Holt) and Jay (Mason Gooding) draws viewers in, creating suspense between laughs and screams in a well-paced race of violence.

In “Heart Eyes” by Josh Ruben, Ally (portrayed by Olivia Holt), an ad executive for a luxury jewelry brand, devises a campaign centred around ill-fated lovers. Her concept, however, is poorly received, given the climate of fear surrounding the relentless “Heart Eyes” serial killer who, for three years running, has been murdering couples on Valentine’s Day. This necessitates the intervention of the company’s marketing genius, Jay (Mason Gooding).

Jay is infatuated with a despondent Ally, who finds herself continually viewing her now romantically involved ex’s social media posts. Despite the wall she puts up, Jay remains smooth and confident, declaring his feelings unabashedly. Ally sees love as a falsehood that leads only to sorrow or tragedy. But once she and Jay run into her ex on Valentine’s Day, a calculated kiss puts them in the line of fire of the Heart Eyes murderer. The focus then shifts to surviving and outsmarting the villain, while simultaneously denying their romantic involvement, a lie that could save their lives.

“Heart Eyes” is a thrilling ride, perfect for both Valentine’s Day and horror film fanatics, and well-crafted for those looking for warmth, vengeance, or both. Whether you cherish or scorn Valentine’s Day, “Heart Eyes” caters for all, cleverly weaving cynicism and romance to provide a comprehensive perspective on the ups and downs of love.

What sets this movie apart is the dichotomy between Ally’s unwavering pessimism and Jay’s hopeful romanticism. Throughout the film, and amidst their struggle to stay alive, the narrative circles around their disagreeing views on love, giving audiences a point of connection. The clever script humorously mocks standard rom-com tropes, embeds them into the narrative in an engaging manner while also showing that there’s charm in the irony.

Despite being ironically self-aware of its own clichés, the film still draws viewers into the classic romantic conundrum, thanks to the engrossing dynamics between Holt and Gooding’s characters. This allows for romantic moments interspersed with scenes of horror. We see various types of couples in the story, providing a diverse depiction of relationships – from Ally’s spoilt friend, to a hopelessly love-struck cop (a comical role by Jordana Brewster), and even those who are unequivocally and simply in love.

The antagonist, Heart Eyes, is impressively designed, adding flair to the horror genre. His grimy yellow mask with luminous red heart-shaped eyes is remarkable. As for the violence, Ruben’s film certainly doesn’t shy away. The creativity at display through the use of everyday objects, machines or the good old knife, is impressively chilling. Coupled with the witty comedic timing, this creates a suspenseful yet humorous spectacle.

“Heart Eyes” flirts with greatness, winking at horror tropes while embracing its offbeat charm, but in the end, it doesn’t quite seal the deal. Like a first date that starts with electric chemistry but fizzles before dessert, the film delivers moments of sharp humor and stylish thrills but stumbles when it needs to leave a lasting impression. Whether you’ll fall head over heels or walk away indifferent depends on your tolerance for genre-bending quirks and a finale that doesn’t quite stick the landing. Either way, “Heart Eyes” is at least worth a glance—just don’t expect love at first sight.

RATING: 3 out of 5 stars.

“Heart Eyes” is in theaters on February 6, 2025.

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