Romantic gestures, date nights and rom-coms.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, so does this list. While I usually enjoy horror or slasher movies, the standard is watching cute romances on Valentine’s Day. The mixing of the two genres is exactly why I loved “Heart Eyes.”
Released on Feb. 7, the film follows two coworkers as they try to salvage their failed marketing campaign by collaborating on a new project. It all takes a surprising turn of events as the two come across the “Heart Eyes Killer.”
Ally McCabe (Olivia Holt) is a heartbroken woman who works in advertising and is forced to work with Jay Simmonds (Mason Gooding), a “charming” and successful freelancer, after her Valentine’s Day marketing campaign backfires. The two are mistaken as a couple by a serial killer known as the “Heart Eyes Killer” while working late on a Valentine’s Day project in Seattle.
As I sat down in the cinema, I anticipated the movie to follow the stereotypical horror movie trope: don’t go there, you’ll get killed, or for some reason everyone splits up and you have to get rid of the killer yourself.
From the beginning of the movie, I was proven wrong. I laughed at some scenes and was terrified at others. Throughout the movie, Ally and Jay encounter a series of gory events after they become the main targets of the “Heart Eyes” slaughtering spree.
Despite the unexpected conflict with each other at the beginning of the movie, their dynamic creates a sweet rom-com trope unraveling under the gory, slasher havoc.
One thing that struck me during the movie was the magnetic cast. The chemistry Holt and Gooding had throughout the movie was phenomenal; I was intrigued every moment they were alone. Their conversations, bickering and romantic scenes seemed so natural and had me laughing at how humorous their roles were together.
The movie keeps a balance between comedy, romance and horror, by blending these genres in a way that keeps the audience hooked. The movie does a great job leaning into a comedic relief while keeping the horror aspect. Though there were elements of a rom-com, it didn’t steer away from keeping the “Heart Eyes Killer” a threat.
Although the entire movie was written nicely, at the end, when the “Heart Eyes” identity was revealed, it was weak in comparison to the rest of the movie. Nonetheless, the movie was still strong. The chemistry and acting were phenomenal, and the balance of wittiness and horror was key.
Overall, I recommend this movie to those who are interested in trying the horror, rom-com combination. This movie takes its viewers on an entertaining ride that leaves you rooting for the main characters, hoping they push through.
