Horror Movie Review: Heart Eyes (2025)

Up there as one of the most romantic modern horrors seen in some time, Heart Eyes adorably blends a romcom with traditional slasher elements. Resulting in a gimmicky, but entertaining film with widespread appeal.

From writers Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon and Michael Kennedy), the film is directed by Josh Ruben, and stars Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding.

The story surrounds the ‘Heart Eyes Killer’, a masked individual known for a spate of killings that targets couples on Valentine’s Day. One such killing is what the film opens with, showcasing a couple being murdered during a ‘dream’ proposal. I put ‘dream’ in inverted commas because Heart Eyes’ opening sequence takes a more critical look at love, in particular, those who care more about the internet’s reaction than anything else.

It’s done for comedy, but like the couple in question, is basic as hell. Thankfully the actual killing and gory visuals are good.

Afterwards, we see just how challenging a case the Heart Eyes Killer is as we’re introduced to detectives Hobbs and Shaw (Devon Sawa and Jordana Brewster are on fire here) who are struggling to find their killer. Who will they target next?

Ally (Holt) is having a particularly rough time, having broken up with her boyfriend and on the cusp of being fired following an ill-advised Valentines ad campaign. A cute and awkward meeting with a stranger in a coffee shop has her smiling at least, until she finds out that this stranger, Jay (Gooding), is a freelancer being brought in to work with her on a new ad campaign.

Suddenly she’s not smiling, feeling that he’s been brought in to replace her, but agrees to go to dinner with him to see what they can come up with for their new ad campaign. There, their opposing views on love put them at loggerheads but on their way out, Ally runs into her ex and in an attempt to make him jealous, she kisses Jay. This gets the attention of someone watching nearby, who believing them to be a couple, makes them their new target.

On the most romantic night of the year, the pair will have to work together to survive and maybe, if they’re lucky, find love.

It’s a trope heavy experience, both from a slasher and romcom angle, but it had to be and as basic as it is, it’s delivered with heart. It’s a violent and over the top love story dripping in blood that alternates between deep cynicism about romance and deep belief in love. Which does result in some jarring tone shifts, but well written characters and very game cast make it work.

In fact, it’s the characters and the actors playing them that make Heart Eyes such a worthwhile watch. If you’ve ever seen a Hallmark movie or two, you’ll recognise a lot of elements here and likewise, if you’ve ever seen a slasher or two, you’ll feel right at home. The combination of the two, done with tongue jammed in cheek, only works if everyone believes in both sides of the film.

Don’t let that led you to believing it’s not campy as hell though, because it really is. Especially when we reach a finale that is ridiculous to some degree, but a lot of fun. An ending that is delightfully gory.

I really enjoyed it, even if some of its faults are glaring and not easy to ignore. One such problem relates to the mystery of the killer, which has almost no stakes. I genuinely believed, several times throughout, that there wasn’t going to be a killer reveal. That the Heart Eyes killer was a nobody, so little is the focus on that side of things, so it certainly came as surprise when the latter part of film suddenly becomes that. Unsurprisingly, it’s a reveal that falls flat, even if everyone involved does the scenes with much gusto.

Alongside that, it’s hard to feel like Ally and Jay are ever in any real danger. They are the protagonists, protected by a love story, it’s clear early on that they’re both going to make it to the end. Which, inevitably, affects pacing when they’re caught up in a stalking sequence. Why feel tension when there’s no reason to feel it?

I do feel like these complaints aren’t that big of a deal though as I found Heart Eyes to be an enjoyable flick that nailed both aspects of its story. It feels like a romcom, and it feels like a slasher. That’s impressive. It’s not changing the world, nor is it offering up anything fresh, but it entertains and, sometimes, that’s all we need.