Heart Eyes (2025) - Film Review

      Heart Eyes, 2025.

      Directed by Josh Ruben.

      Featuring Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Jordana Brewster, Devon Sawa, Gigi Zumbado, Ben Black, Chris Parker, Latham Gaines, and Lauren O’Hara.

      SYNOPSIS:

      For several years, the “Heart Eyes Killer” has terrorized Valentine's Day by stalking and murdering couples in love. This Valentine’s Day, no couple is safe.

      The daring concept of combining a cheesy romance with a slasher theme is commendable. However, in pursuing this idea, director Josh Ruben (based on a script by Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon, and Michael Kennedy) seems to overlook that the main draw of slasher films is the thrill of the kills. While there are exceptions, like Laurie Strode from Halloween, even she has numerous side characters whose main purpose is to die (or have sex before meeting their end). Given the absurd premise involving two coworkers who deny their feelings for each other during a night of terror from a notorious Valentine’s Day killer—who misinterprets a staged kiss meant to make an ex jealous as genuine love and goes on a rampage—I would expect the film to feature various couples to enjoy watching meet their demise.

      On some level, the filmmakers recognize this, as Heart Eyes begins with a humorous marriage proposal from a man who amusingly describes how love makes him “think.” This character soon goes on a rant to a photographer who failed to capture the moment. It doesn’t take long before these individuals are killed off, effectively blending comedy with slasher gore, partially because we hold no attachment to these lovebirds.

      The film starts strong, leading into a meet-cute, but then it spends an excessive amount of time developing overly familiar romantic comedy characters. Olivia Holt’s Ally is an advertiser for a jewelry company who has structured her new campaign around doomed romances linked to death. Unfortunately, this coincides poorly with the Heart Eyes Killer’s arrival in Seattle after previously terrorizing Boston, armed with his machete and crossbow. Newly hired Jay (Mason Gooding, experienced in the slasher genre from recent Scream films) is tasked with collaborating with Ally on reworking the marketing and hopes to appease some angry commenters (which the film amusingly critiques briefly).

      The issue is that Heart Eyes is somewhat unbalanced, veering too much into the romantic comedy realm with broad characters. Ally, who dismisses storybook romances and abandoned a medical career (in part due to her discomfort with blood), contrasts with Jay, who grew up witnessing failed romances and aspires to show that happy endings are possible. Their interactions often lead to clumsy situations, such as Ally mistakenly suspecting Jay of trying to take her job, which is merely a distraction from her instant attraction to him. Ally also has a friend who is satisfied living off a sugar daddy, which seems like it could lead to more insightful commentary on relationships but ultimately doesn’t.

      After their work meeting/first date, Ally feigns a kiss with Jay to impress her ex-boyfriend, attracting the attention of the Heart Eyes Killer (who has a heart-themed mask and weapon). The film then devolves into a series of pursuit scenes interspersed with awkward attempts at comedic quips, set against otherwise engaging action sequences. As a result, Ally and Jay begin to feel less like authentic individuals in peril and more like mere plot devices. There's a lack of real tension or urgency since they are the main characters; most others who perish are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, with their deaths feeling uninspired.

      Additionally, the film incorporates a Scream-like mystery regarding the killer's identity (produced by Spyglass, it seems like a hasty attempt to keep the slasher genre alive), at times working hard to mislead viewers based on typical expectations. The reveal tries for humor but falls flat, particularly since it's ultimately predictable.

      Nevertheless, credit goes to the filmmakers for maintaining some energy and tension once the cat-and-mouse sequences commence, delivering some shocking late kills. However, the many missteps after an excellent opening make Heart Eyes more of a frustrating disappointment than an entertaining film.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He also serves as the Reviews Editor for Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews and follow my BlueSky or Letterboxd.