Director Josh Ruben follows up his enjoyable horror comedy "Werewolves Within" with a slasher flick in "Heart Eyes" from Screen Gems. Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon (who also produces), and Michael Kennedy pen the film's screenplay, introducing horror fans to a new villain named the Heart Eyes killer. His mission is to take out couples—the more obnoxiously in love, the better.
Unlikely in love and somewhat jaded twenty-something, Ally McCabe (Oliva Holt) is tasked by her witty boss, Crystal Cane (Michaela Watkins), to work on Valentine's Day. Ally's bestie Monica (Gigi Zumbado) sees it as a silver lining since Ally gets to work with her co-worker, the suave and charismatic Jay Simmonds (Mason Gooding).
Unfortunately, while the duo hashes out ideas for an ad campaign over drinks on Valentine's Day, Heart Eyes mistakes them for his prime targets: a young, love-smitten couple. Soon, Ally and Jay are thrust into a fight for survival. Meanwhile, steely-eyed cop Jeanine Shaw (Jordana Brewster) and her toxic partner, Detective Zeke Hobbs (Devon Sawa), hope to track down Heart Eyes and end his killing spree. However, their investigation is tainted by the married Hobbs's unrequited infatuation with Shaw.
Reuben humorously begins "Heart Eyes" with a proposal that goes wrong and quickly ends in bloodshed. We then meet Ally, our final girl, who has her meet cute Jay and the stage is set for a solid date movie mixed with a glorious slasher flick. We watch Ally go through the getting ready phase for the work date with Jay, and naturally, the date goes wrong. A series of events leads Ally and Jay on the run from the Heart Eyes killer.
The strength of "Heart Eyes" resides in the lead actors' performances, who exhibit a natural chemistry that effectively aligns with the director's vision. Olivia Holt delivers a captivating and refreshing portrayal of the heroine. At the same time, Mason Gooding rapidly establishes himself as a prominent figure in the genre, showcasing his talents as a compelling scream king. Jordanna Brewster and Devon Sawa are also both good as cops.
The kills in the film are brutal enough to please gore fans, while the director provides ample foreshadowing to guess who the murderer is. However, Heart Eyes skillfully avoids being predictable and has several surprises to keep the astute slasher enthusiast alert.
Mixing comedy and horror can sometimes go left; however, with a solid cast and appreciation for both genres, Josh Ruben delivers an enjoyable flick for V-Day 2025.
Final Grade: B+
"Heart Eyes" is in theaters today.
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