#REVIEW: “HEART EYES”

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

Wes Craven would be incredibly flattered by Heart Eyes. This is not saying that Josh Ruben’s direction nor Christopher Landon, Philip Murphy, and Michael Kennedy’s Script would be akin to the work of the legend, but it also is saying a lot. Landon and Kennedy who are the creative minds behind hits Happy Death Day and Freaky, bring their genre-mashing style to Heart Eyes, an absolutely perfect combination of Comedy and Horror, yet also a Whodunnit mystery that make it feel like a Valentine’s Day-themed cousin of Scream.

The Movie starts off with the most obnoxious, eye-rolling, influencer nonsense ever witnessed, and it’s clear from the get-go with this setup, this is going to lean heavily into Comedy, and shortly thereafter, the Horror. The couple is targeted by HEK, or formally known as the Heart Eyes Killer, someone who slays couples on the most romantic day of the year, Valentine’s Day. After some gory, over-the-top, Saw levels of killing, HEK now has his eyes set on the most unlikely duo, a duo of two people who are certainly not a couple, even after their obnoxious meet cute, Ally and Jay (Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding respectfully).

HEK refuses to stop hunting them, despite their consistent screaming while in their crosshairs that they’re not actually a couple. While they’re trying to stay safe and alive, the local police department are also on the case and realizing not everything is adding up. Detectives Hobbs and Shaw (Devon Sawa and Jordana Brewster respectively – and no, not those ones) are on the case, everything is pointing one way and maybe it is, maybe it isn’t only time will tell, as HEK continues adding to their tally of bodies putting as our two leads are in peril danger.

Heart Eyes is equally hilarious as it is scary, in the same way Scream is scary. This isn’t a Horror movie for puritan Horror fans who crave only scares, blood and guts. This is for fans of multiple genres who appreciate a good blend. It’s never trying to be anything other than something over-the-top ridiculous and *maybe* spawn a Valentine’s Day franchise of epic Horror-Comedy proportions.

Landon and Kennedy are in full force here, it is evident throughout their balanced Script – and while the reveal isn’t as much a reveal as it is a smack-your-head moment, the twist is a very interesting one! The Script is only as strong as the Actors who pull off what they are given, and partnered with some tight direction from Ruben, Heart Eyes pulls off a rare feat – something so inspired and original despite it having familiar influences.

Gooding and Holt conveying the will they, won’t they– oh wait, maybe – dynamic is the charm and chaos Heart Eyes needs. It’s the perfect dynamic to bring the madness of a Valentine’s Day killer flick to the next level. No one wants to see the happy couple murdered, nor the “we’re not even together”-yelling lunatics get killed either.  Their ability to play off each other, hide any answers, and truly allow the audience to play detective the entire time is what makes it work. Brewster and Sawa add an additional level of fun, making Heart Eyes so much more than you’d imagine. Complete madness!

Sony Pictures Canada release HEART EYES in theatres Friday, February 7, 2025.