The Reel Review
When the infamous Heart Eyes serial killer, known for creatively bludgeoning romantic couples each Valentine’s Day, arrives in Seattle, two work colleagues find themselves fighting for their lives when Heart Eyes mistakes them for a couple. Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding star in this romantic comedy/horror.
Heart Eyes is a gleefully silly and gory R-rated send-up of both slasher movies and rom-coms, with some clever one-liners, lots of creatively gnarly kills, a couple of excellent jump scares and two leads with great onscreen chemistry amidst all the campy, trope upending and self-aware humor.
Holt (Totally Killer) impressively balances humor and horror in the film, which features some fun supporting characters: a hilarious Gigi Zumbado (Bridge and Tunnel) as her quick-witted bestie, Michaela Watkins (Suze) as a tempestuous jewelry company CEO, and Jordana Brewster (the Fast & Furious films, The Faculty) and Devon Sawa (Hunter, Hunter, Final Destination) as Seattle detectives on the hunt for the killer. The third act sputters to a predictable and boring ending, but Heart Eyes is otherwise a weird, fun ride that is always in on the joke.
REEL FACTS
• The writers of Heart Eyes swear they named their two detectives Hobbs and Shaw (two characters from the Fast & Furious franchise) prior to Jordana Brewster’s casting.
• Director Josh Ruben also has a cameo in the film as the man who yells “Call 911!” at the drive-in.
• Mason Gooding (Scream, Love, Victor) is the son of Oscar-winner Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire).
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