“Heart Eyes” follows co-workers Ally and Jay as they are stalked by a masked maniac with glowing, red eyes who returns every Valentine’s Day to terrorize unsuspecting couples.
A Self-Aware Holiday Horror Comedy
We are seeing a resurgence in holiday horror comedies, with “Heart Eyes” playing off similarly to “Thanksgiving” from 2023.
The film is fully self-aware, never taking itself too seriously, right from the opening sequence. Because of this, there were several occasions where I found myself laughing out loud. The comedy never feels forced either, with multiple genuinely hilarious quips and callbacks.
“Heart Eyes” starts off with a bang in the gore department before quickly taming down over the next 30 minutes. While the early stages of the film affect the overall pacing, it’s able to overcome this with a non-stop fun and chaotic final hour.
The movie flows seamlessly once the Heart Eyes Killer is reintroduced at the midway point. The final act is where it is able to shine with its kills, implementing creative weapons and locations into the mix.
Strong Leads with Great Chemistry
“Heart Eyes” works so well because of the two extremely likable leads – Olivia Holt as Ally and Mason Gooding as Jay. Right from the first time they lay eyes on each other, their chemistry is evident. Holt plays the more dynamic role, with a layered character that goes through many highs and lows. Gooding seems to have found his sweet spot as the charming and emotional yet sarcastic protector. Both also have solid character development over the 97-minute runtime.
This development is what’s most surprising about “Heart Eyes,” as I actually found myself invested in these characters. The film spends a lot of time early on fleshing both of them out. This feels slightly tiring in the moment but pays off in the end.
Creative Kills and Fun Tonal Shifts
“Heart Eyes” also succeeds in subverting expectations. Not necessarily with any big reveals or twists, but simply how the film is laid out. The movie is OK with not showing the killer for close to 30 minutes, putting more of its focus on the central relationship. It’s also OK with showing continuous carnage with little-to-no breaks in between.
The shifting in tones oftentimes feels jarring, and this actually works in Heart Eyes’ favor.
“Heart Eyes” is another fresh entry in the slasher genre with likable characters, creative kills and a simple but striking killer. It’s a Valentine’s Day movie with heart and a whole lot of blood. I’d definitely welcome seeing the “HEK” come back for more in a sequel.
Rating: 4 out of 5
