When picking out a movie to watch, I will look at a bunch of things. Concept. Stars. Production team. All of those help edge out the pick from others. In this case, it was the team of director Josh Ruben (Werewolves Within) and writers Christopher Landon and Michael Kennedy (Freaky) that primarily drew me to it, as well as the concept. Killer with a cool mask stalking couples on Valentine’s Day? Sold. I’m glad to say they didn’t disappoint.
The movie opens up with the Heart Eyes killer already being on the scene for the past two years, murdering couples in Boston and then in Philadelphia. This year, he’s moved out west to Seattle where he picks up where he left off by offing a newly-engaged couple and leaving them a bloody mess at a winery.
Enter Ally (Olivia Holt), who is in trouble at her for a badly-timed commercial that makes light of doomed couples. While getting coffee, she has a meet-cute with Jay (Mason Gooding), who unbeknownst to her is a marketing freelancer brought in to help salvage the campaign. In order to get the work done before he leaves, they agree to go to dinner that night and hammer it all out.
Did I mention that it happens to be Valentine’s Day?
Sparks are flying-but not the right kind–as Ally and Jay butt heads over differing opinions on love. The dinner ends before it even begins when Jay storms out. Ally gives chase a ends up kissing him when she sees her ex and his new girlfriend in order to make him jealous. However, this act is seen by another party–the Heart Eyes Killer–and now they are on his radar as his next targets.
Part romantic comedy, part slasher, and all fun, HEART EYES isn’t afraid to bounce from sweet and saccharine to bloody and disgusting at a moment’s notice. The two leads have good chemistry, and it’s no surprise that the killer goes after them as it is clear there is something brewing there, even if they don’t know it themselves. The mask that HEK wears is cool-looking and memorable, bringing to mind the Harry Warden gas mask and Decker’s mask from NIGHTBREED. It has a cool light-up effect that is practical and stylish, which makes it even more awesome.
The cast is solid. Haven’t seen Holt in much but I always liked Gooding as Randy’s nephew in SCREAM and SCREAM VI. He gets a little more time to shine here and is charismatic as hell, especially since in those movies he basically existed to be abused by Ghostface. Devon Sawa and Jordana Brewster show up as detectives on the case of the HEK and have probably the greatest cop duo name ever.
All in all it’s another home run from a team I will be looking forward to seeing more from. It’s funny, it’s scary and it doesn’t overstay its welcome and leaves you wanting more. It’s probably the first slasher in awhile I’ve watched and felt like I needed a sequel then and there.
Check it out.
