The Heart Eyes killer could become a memorable horror villain for the Valentine’s occasion, in a similar way to how Michael Myers is synonymous with horror films set at Halloween.
Heart Eyes follows two work colleagues who get caught up in the murders of a killer, who has wreaked havoc on Valentine’s Day by stalking and murdering romantic couples.
This film is a slasher romantic comedy which manages to fulfill all of its primary genres to a surprisingly satisfying degree. It’s a fresh spin on a romantic Valentine’s story. It succeeds in this area because the two leads are so likeable which isn’t always the case for a slasher film. Those two characters are Ally and Jay who are portrayed by Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding. Both of them are endearing and the actors share an organic chemistry that makes you want to root for them and see them survive. Olivia Holt delivers a performance that felt grounded and at times earnest, with how she displays the emotions and roadblocks she faces romantically. Ally’s experiences and the effect they have had on her seem like they’d be relatable to many, especially within her age range. Mason Gooding is a charismatic lead who shows how much the Scream franchise was under utilising him. He’s charming and funny but he’s also able to bring a genuine sincerity to Jay which makes him amiable.
The scenes that solely focus on them and their potential romance made me want to learn more about them, and how their experiences influenced their idea of love which is initially opposed. Under the surface this film contains a timely message about embracing love, and not being hesitant and nonchalant towards it when you actually find someone you’re interested in. I think that’s a valuable message for the current generation of teens and young adults, who are growing tired and resistant to modern dating culture.
As a comedy, Heart Eyes works due to having dialogue that feels natural and amusing, which is then elevated because it’s delivered by actors with good comedic timing. There’s a nice variety within the humour which stopped it from feeling stale and forced. On top of all that, this is a great slasher that features a relentless killer with a distinct look. The Heart Eyes killer could become a memorable horror villain for the Valentine’s occasion, in a similar way to how Michael Myers is synonymous with horror films set at Halloween. There’s a plethora of brilliant slasher set pieces in unique locations throughout this film, one of the highlights being a drive in theatre. These scenes contain a mix of good comedy, light thrills, suspense and bloody violence.
The cinematography is slick with the night photography being well composed and lit, whilst maintaining the shadows and darker colour palette without being over exposed. The script executes its ideas efficiently. It’s extremely well paced and the run time goes by swiftly. As a result of this none of the core genres at play, such as the romance, comedy and horror drag or over stay their welcome. The director Josh Ruben knows when to alternative between the key characteristics of each genre. He’s able to maximise the dramatic and fun aspects when the story calls for it.
The final act reveal isn’t a major shock but it still makes sense in relation to the film and the Valentine’s theme. The story could’ve benefitted from having more red herrings along the way that connected to the story that is being told. The supporting cast is good albeit small and it was nice to see some recognisable faces.
Heart Eyes is a horror romantic comedy that hits all the marks with efficiency. The result is the best teen slasher in a long time, which weaves a satisfying love story amongst the slasher bloodshed, With two great performances at the heart of it.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This review was written by Terrelle Graham.
Heart Eyes. Starring Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa and Jordana Brewster. Runtime 97 minutes.