Review: Heart Eyes
Romance Is Dead
INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film Heart Eyes. Please note that this is just one of the many movies I will have watched each year, and my initial grade for this film may change over time, for better or worse. To stay up to date on my thoughts about other movies and any potential changes in my opinion on this one, follow me on Letterboxd.
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PLOT
Via Letterboxd: When the “Heart Eyes Killer” strikes Seattle, a pair of co-workers pulling overtime on Valentine’s Day are mistaken for a couple by the elusive couple-hunting killer. Now, they must spend the most romantic night of the year running for their lives.
REVIEW
Before I go into my review of Heart Eyes, I feel compelled to address the elephant in the room regarding the film’s production company, Spyglass, firing the two lead protagonists of the previous Scream films, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega. I am not a fan of Scream 5 or Scream 6; in fact, the films only age worse for me as time passes. However, I stand with those who believe Barrera and Ortega received a raw deal in that whole affair. That said, the controversy surrounding their dismissal did not deter me from watching and reviewing this or any other Spyglass film. I know some fellow critics and cinephiles who are boycotting their movies, and I respect their decision. While I won’t be joining them in protest, I understand and agree with their reasons.
With that out of the way…
While my all-time favorite franchise features a giant radioactive lizard battling other colossal monsters, and I grew up watching a plethora of classic horror films, my personal favorite genre is romance. Despite the personal lumps I’ve taken in that department, I remain an ever-hopeless romantic.
Of course, the idea of meshing all three of those genres together seems almost impossible. And I’d be right; I’m not aware of any film that successfully blends all three (perhaps Godzilla Minus One could be stretched into counting). However, Heart Eyes seamlessly combines romance and horror, essentially dropping a rom-com into a gnarly slasher film, making it a perfect date-night movie for couples who love horror.
But is it any good? I can happily report that Heart Eyes is very good. It is indeed the perfect twisted date-night movie; one that will have your partner cuddling up to you afterward, not just jumping into your arms out of fear. The romantic chemistry between Mason Gooding and Olivia Holt is palpable, and I absolutely bought into and rooted for their growing romance. The film is unabashedly pro-love and doesn’t apologize for it. And since it’s a rom-com, you get the staple elements - comedic relief, the best friend who disappears after the first act, the high-stress professional careers, the meet-cute, and the ups and downs of the "will they/won't they?" dynamic.
But don’t think the horror takes a backseat, because it absolutely doesn’t. While it may not excel in the "whodunit" aspect as some other slasher films, the kills are brutal enough that I found myself cringing and fidgeting in my theater seat. The body count strikes a balance - not too low, yet not laughably excessive either. What impressed me most was how the film intertwines rom-com story arc tropes with horror and violence, making for an unexpectedly cohesive experience.
Simply put, Heart Eyes is a brilliantly executed attempt at merging two genres that couldn’t be more different. I wanted our leads to get together, yet I also feared for their lives. The film had me laughing frequently one minute and horrified the next, and it’s easily my new personal favorite of the year at this super early stage. It earns the first initial grade of B+ in 2025; delivering romance, comedy, and a bloody good time at the movies. For anyone who loves both romance and horror, this is the best Valentine’s Day theater trip I can recommend this year.
GRADING
