By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
This Valentine’s Day, why not treat yourself to this holiday themed horror flick. “Heart Eyes” is a “Scream” inspired slasher with a healthy sense of humor that entertains from start to finish. The story may be a bit flawed and predictable, but it doesn’t care, it just focuses on having fun and so should you if you give this movie a try.
There’s a serial killer on the loose who targets young couples in love on Valentine’s Day. For advertising executive Ally McCabe (Olivia Holt), this isn’t much of a concern because she is hopelessly single with no prospects, that is, until she meets her new coworker, Jay Simmonds (Mason Gooding). Their chemistry is undeniable, catching the attention and gaze of the heart eyes killer, who is easily identifiable with a mask that has its eyes shaped like, you guessed it, hearts.
Initially escaping the clutches of this psychotic killer, the couple fights for survival, but once the murderer sets sight on the preferred couple, tunnel vision locks in and nobody will stand in the masked villain’s way. Not even the help of hapless detectives humorously named Hobbs (Devon Sawa) and Shaw (Jordana Brewster) may be enough to keep Ally and Jay safe.
With the realm of slasher flicks becoming more and more crowded with each passing month, director Josh Ruben admirably makes “Heart Eyes” stand out in a positive way. Yes, the premise of a masked, knife wielding maniac preying on young adults is eerily similar to the new godfather of the genre, “Scream,” as well as most others that have come after it. What differentiates this from being another wannabe is its twisted sense of humor. In fact, Ruben makes this as more of a comedy than a horror film, steering it away from taking itself too seriously to the point that it almost mocks itself. He clearly wants his audience to laugh, and he succeeds throughout with over-the-top sequences and unique, bloodletting kills.
Despite the intense hide/chase scenes and bloody gore, this is not a scary movie or even much of a suspenseful one. Ruben’s priority on comedy and entertainment strip away the fear inducing moments. The predictability of the plot doesn’t help either with the “big reveals” being pretty obvious and obligatory. However, this doesn’t seem to matter, because viewers are enjoying themselves too much to care. In fact, its charm is its self-deprecating sense of humor with Ruben almost mocking the formulaic tendencies of this subgenre.
Little known actress Olivia Holt stars, and she is perfectly cast as the professional young woman jaded by past relationships who finds herself unexpectedly smitten. She does a fantastic job of convincingly balancing that fine line of comedic awkwardness from being in a harrowing situation with someone she’s deeply attracted to, while shifting to abject terror from being hunted by the killer. Her scene partner through most of the film is Mason Gooding, who coincidentally has a starring role in the last two and upcoming “Scream” movies. His growing experience in these roles shows with his natural approach and reactions. The son of Cuba Gooding Jr. displays an effortless chemistry with Olivia, a cohesive banter that makes his character all the more likeable.
Jordana Brewster, best known for her very one-dimensional character portrayal in the “Fast and Furious” franchise, offers a different look in this film as the detective who comically finds herself attracted to Gooding’s character. Her partner is played by none other than Devon Sawa, the original star of 2000’s “Final Destination.” He also provides additional humor as the no-nonsense, overly aggressive detective who’s in over his head. Then there’s Gigi Zumbado, who plays a minor role as the lead’s friend, but her well-timed line delivery and funny reactions make her small performance a memorable one.
The title may sound dumb, the killer’s mask may look a bit silly, and the premise absurd, but that’s the point. “Heart Eyes” won’t have you gripping your armrests in terror, but it will have you grabbing your sides from laughter. Just don’t look into it too deeply or take it too seriously, and you’ll likely walk away with a smile in your eyes.
This movie earns:
