by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Valentine’s Day is a divisive holiday. Many love its focus on love and romance, and will spend an insane amount of money on their partners. Others hate the holiday’s commercial nature. Then you have those who don’t have something to celebrate. But no matter your situation, one thing is guaranteed to make Valentine’s Day worse… a serial killer with a romance theme brutally massacring couples each February 14. Director Josh Ruben makes that nightmare come to life with his new horror/rom-com, Heart Eyes.
So how well do these two genres fuse together? For the most part, the horror elements deliver. This is a slasher flick through and through. Audiences come to slashers for the kills — they’re present in Heart Eyes, and they’re gnarly and brutal. The film’s practical effects capture some serious brutality, including a bloody and playful nod to St. Valentine himself. With good sound design and mixing, these kills feel even more impactful, as there is real weight behind every swing of a blade or the impact of an arrow. There is frustratingly choppy editing in the more action-oriented kills, but the overall experience is bonkers.
Do the romance and comedy elements deliver on the same level? One does, at least. The humor in this film is fantastic. There is a great mixture of physical comedy (drenched in blood, though) and clever quipping. The banter between our protagonists, Ally (Olivia Holt) and Jay (Mason Gooding), is top notch, and their attitude towards each other makes each joke land. The film certainly has plenty of brutal and scary kills, but it never takes itself too seriously, injecting gags to cut the tension.
But the romance end of this rom com is less effective. The film stuffs in too many tropes and clichés, making it less engaging and fresh than it could have been. The chemistry between Holt and Gooding is palpable, but the setup is familiar and tiring.
And that — the script — is where most of the film’s issues come from. Getting straight to the point, the killer reveal is quite underwhelming. There are too many familiar beats from the most recent Screamfilms to feel interesting and fresh. Heart Eyes tries to have fun with its reveal, but it is just a distraction from the weaker reveal. The impact isn’t there. Many of the characters are thinly written and dull. But thankfully, the screenplay’s comedy is a real saving grace, even if the characters are not the most layered or interesting.
Ultimately, Holt and Gooding are what make the movie worth it. There are so many great moments thanks to the legitimate connection that Ally and Jay have. They are both fighting their feelings for each other, and that shows in their banter. The line deliveries that Gooding offers up are fantastic, and make him so entertaining. Holt holds her own as well. The rest of the cast is honestly forgettable, except for Gigi Zumbado, who makes the most of her small yet supportive role.
Heart Eyes delivers buckets of blood, but the script leaves something to be desired, even when it is delivering hilarious moments. Not many directors would stage a big emotional moment with loud people having sex in the background. A great pair of protagonists goes a long way for this slasher/rom-com. Blood, laughs, and love.
Rating: It Was Just Okay
Heart Eyes is currently playing in theaters
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