AtanariaJosh Ruben’s “Heart Eyes” isn’t just a movie—it’s a brilliantly executed love letter to both romantic comedies and slasher films, seamlessly weaving the two into a bloody, hilarious, and unexpectedly charming spectacle. What starts as an exaggerated take on influencer culture quickly shifts into a macabre joyride of romance and terror, ensuring that audiences are simultaneously swooning and screaming.
A Genre-Bending Delight
At its core, “Heart Eyes” thrives on the inherent similarities between romcoms and horror films—grand gestures can either be heartwarming or horrifying, and the pursuit of love isn’t all that different from the hunt of a masked killer. Ruben, alongside screenwriters Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon, and Michael Kennedy, leans into these parallels, crafting a film that both celebrates and subverts its respective genres. It’s as if “Scream” collided with “They Came Together” while borrowing the self-aware humor of “Scary Movie.”
The story follows Ally (Olivia Holt), a marketing executive nursing a broken heart, whose latest ad campaign inadvertently places her in the crosshairs of the Heart Eyes killer. Teaming up with Jay (Mason Gooding), a charismatic colleague she initially clashes with, Ally finds herself at the center of both a workplace romance and a deadly pursuit. When their fake dating ploy to rile up an ex catches the eye of the masked murderer, the couple must navigate both their growing attraction and the looming threat of grisly demise. Adding to the chaos are two detectives, Jeanine Shaw (Jordana Brewster) and Zeke Hobbs (Devon Sawa), who provide an additional comedic layer with their inept but well-meaning investigation.
Clever Writing and Standout Performances
What makes “Heart Eyes” so effective is its balance of humor and horror. The film never takes itself too seriously, peppering in self-aware jokes, genre-savvy winks, and razor-sharp dialogue that keeps the energy high. At the same time, it delivers on the horror front with inventive kills and suspenseful set pieces. A standout moment involves Ally discovering the Heart Eyes killer hiding in her messy closet during a particularly embarrassing moment—a scene that perfectly encapsulates the film’s ability to blend comedy and tension.
