Heart Eyes

6.5/10 STARS - I didn't realize before going into this, that it's categorized as a "rom-com slasher," so the comedic elements to this film were a little bit of a surprise at first. However, once I fully settled into the groove of what this movie was going for, some elements were easier to forgive. There IS one plot point I had a major issue with, but despite that, it was still an enjoyable watch. I enjoyed the chemistry and comedic interactions between the two leads and the pacing was fine. The kills were pretty gnarly, so I think it'll scratch the itch of most horror fans in that regard. While I'm not a fan of rom-coms, I AM a fan of horror, so something like this is right up my alley. Video review available on my YouTube channel.

Do not expect cinematic genius.

Do not expect Oscar worthy writing, acting or even costuming.

Do not expect to be scared, there wasn't any visual only mild suspense.

Do expect to cringe at some awkward meet-cute moments.

Do expect campy gore that isn't realistic in the slightest.

Do expect to laugh out loud because you just didn't expect something so predictable to be sort of refreshing.

I seriously guffawed at this well paced and goofy movie.

It was awkwardly cute. As if a Hallmark movie fell in love with a Jason Voorhees obsessed teenager and they wrote a movie about it. I think it only got an R rating because of the swearing and perhaps the visual of a sex toy. There wasn't any visual sex (but there is audible thrown in for gross factor) or nudity in this film.

As we were leaving the theater, I thought to myself "that was a fun movie!". It wasn't serious. There was not a lot of thinking involved. I just enjoyed being on a break from reality. I was simply entertained from the beginning until the credits.

The opening scens and murders made me think..... wow, that's a cool looking character. Some really well thought out fun deaths. This is going to be great.

Then it ground to a halt and it became a really lame romantic comedy (without real comedy, just awkward smile cringe humour). This went on far too long and luckily just when I said out loud....."oh for Christ's sake! Enough of this soppy nonsense" the killer returned and we were off again with some great action. I wasn't really liking the characters yet so didn't care whether they lived or died. Was just wanting more of the killer without the cringe level attempts at comedy.

This film didn't know what it wanted ro be. A soppy romantic soft comedy or an all out slasher gorefest. I guess they thought they were being original trying tk blend the two but it didn't work for me.

The humour seemed out of place and silly and I was constantly thinking "I wish they had played this straight as the killer is really good.

The two cops "Hobbs and Shaw" *eyeroll moment and if it was a nod to something it was lost on me. Same writer ir director as the Staham/Rock film maybe? Otherwise it was just plain odd ??

The police station scenes were well ahem...executed but soon after the film Grinds to another halt to allow some more pointless romance !? Mid chase from a maniac slasher!?? Really!?

Luckily this is not as long as before and the killer takes out the stoners in epic fashion. Now that's more like it.

Ignoring the plenty of opportunities the killer has to end the couples life's yet doesn't the scene is good.

Then back to the soppy romantic slop. And I was almost ready to turn it off.

But then a very lazy twist and we have yet more opportunities to end the heroes but fail and end up toast.

Soppy ending with embarrassing phone call that was supposed to be amusing yet made my eyeballs roll so hard back I could see my brain.

It gets a 5 for the fantastic slasher character who if had been done better and play3d straight couldn't have been a new horror icon.

But wasted opportunity.

It's like a husband and wife team decided to make a film together with one another. One loving Slashers and the other Notting Hill.

The humour didn't land very well and it was ultimately a frustrating mess.

This is not a horror film.

This is a romcom with slasher elements but the kills are presented in a very goofy way. The main actress is Julia Stiles reincarnated in Gen Z and the twenty-somethings featured in the story evoke silly teen comedies of the 2000s. The darkest thing about this movie was the dark cyan color grading--also found in abundance in the 2000s in teen horrors. The dialogue and characters are cartoonish, the protagonist is invincible even in her juvenile and clumsy silliness, and the movie, admittedly, is successful in creating an odd fusion romcom with horror but it only works if you were expecting Bring It On, Not Another Teen Movie, or Scary Movie. But sprinkle in a few funny killings.

It's also by SONY. Do with that what you will.

The first and last kills would probably be the only interesting thing to a viewer expecting a horror movie. Toss the rest.

Heart Eyes was a good attempt at a holiday themed horror movie, but ultimately didn't know what it wanted to be. A romantic comedy mixed with horror elements seems like an interesting idea, but unfortunately ended up dull. Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding are great in their roles and the character design for the Heart Eyes Killer was cool. The story was a little bit all over the place and doesn't have much of a payoff in the end. The kills were fun and creative, but usually done for laughs. Overall, if you are looking for a silly and dumb horror movie for a Valentine's Day date night, Heart Eyes is a good choice.