For decades, horror has thrived on reinvention, blending subgenres in unexpected ways to keep audiences on their toes. Heart Eyes, the latest from director Josh Ruben (Werewolves Within, Scare Me), takes this approach with gory enthusiasm, splicing slasher horror with a full-fledged romantic comedy. While similar Valentine’s Day-set body count films like My Bloody Valentine (1981, 2009) and Valentine (2001) delivered thrills, they never quite found the sweet spot between romance and bloodshed. Heart Eyes, however, manages to be both a solid rom-com and a satisfyingly grisly slasher, proving that love and carnage can go hand in hand.
The film introduces its masked menace, the Heart Eyes Killer, in an opening sequence that establishes its playful but brutal tone. The masked villain, sporting an eerie heart-shaped-eye motif and night vision capabilities, makes an entrance by gruesomely dispatching an Instagram Influencer couple in an elaborate, over-the-top display of carnage. The media labels the murderer “HEK,” and each year, the killer resurfaces on Valentine’s Day, slashing through couples as they celebrate their love. But while the premise feels familiar, the execution is anything but.
Our heroine, Ally (Olivia Holt), is a marketing executive whose Valentine’s Day jewelry campaign has just bombed—because nothing says romance like a collection inspired by doomed lovers. Tasked with salvaging the project, she’s paired with Jay (Mason Gooding), a charming consultant with a penchant for grand romantic gestures. Their chemistry is undeniable from the start, making for a breezy, compelling rom-com dynamic. The duo’s meet-cute involves an aggressively specific coffee order, setting the stage for a series of playful banter exchanges that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Nora Ephron script. But before their relationship can properly simmer, a business dinner on Valentine’s Day places them directly in HEK’s crosshairs.
What follows is an exhilarating chase across the city as Ally and Jay find themselves fighting to survive the night. The killer is relentless, executing victims in creative, pun-laced fashion that makes Scream look tame in comparison. Ruben balances the humor and horror deftly, never letting one overpower the other. The kills are gleefully absurd, but the tension is real, particularly in the film’s standout set pieces—a bloodbath at a florist shop and a chase sequence through a love-themed escape room stand out as particularly fun (and messy) highlights. The film may never be scary but it hold tension throughout its brief runtime.
Holt and Gooding’s performances are a key ingredient in Heart Eyes’ success. Holt navigates Ally’s arc from rom-com lead to final girl with ease, her comedic timing just as sharp as her survival instincts. Gooding, meanwhile, makes for an incredibly likable leading man, effortlessly switching between charming flirt and resourceful hero. Their chemistry makes even the most ludicrous moments feel grounded. Gigi Zumbado provides solid comedic support as Ally’s best friend, while Devon Sawa and Jordana Brewster shine as Hobbs and Shaw (yes, really), the wisecracking detectives trying to track down HEK before the body count climbs even higher.
If Heart Eyes has a flaw, it’s that its slasher elements sometimes lean too heavily on familiar genre beats. The film’s whodunit angle is engaging but occasionally predictable, and while the final reveal is fun, it doesn’t quite deliver the gut-punch twist one might hope for. That said, the film’s relentless energy and commitment to both romance and horror make up for any shortcomings. It never winks too hard at the audience or tries to deconstruct its genres; instead, it fully embraces both, ensuring that the rom-com beats land just as well as the gruesome kills.
By the time the climactic showdown rolls around—an all-out brawl with equal parts slapstick and slasher chaos—it’s clear that Heart Eyes isn’t just a gimmicky genre experiment. It’s a legitimately solid rom-com and a wildly entertaining horror flick, proving that the heart and the knife can coexist beautifully.
As the credits roll, one thing becomes certain: Heart Eyes is a film that could satisfy date night audiences and hardcore horror fans alike. Bloody, hilarious, and surprisingly romantic, it’s a mashup that feels destined for cult classic status. Whether you come for the love story or the body count, Heart Eyes delivers both in spades.
3.5/5
Comments