Heart Eyes (2025) Review
“Heart Eyes” delivers decent laughs and an acceptable level of brutality, but lacks the writing needed to make the Heart Eyes Killer into an icon.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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“Heart Eyes” Film Details
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes
Release Date: February 6, 2025
Initially Available On/Via: Theatrical Release
Advisory Film Rating: Rated R
Genre(s): Comedy, Horror, Romance, Young Adult
Distributor(s): Screen Gems
Director(s): Josh Ruben
Writer(s): Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon, Michael Kennedy
Summary
Ally is still reeling over the end of her last relationship, despite breaking up with him, and to make matters worse, she might get fired from her job at a jewelry company. Why? Well, because she came up with a marketing campaign focused on iconic couples who die at the end. This is considered bad taste, for with the Heart Eyes Killer now in its third year, creating a commercial about couples dying, when that is the main target of the Heart Eyes Killer, is controversial.
Thankfully for Ally, a cute freelancer named Jay has been hired, and while Ally worries about him taking her job, he makes it clear not only does he not want to, but also he wants to get to know her. Ally is hesitant since her heart is not fully healed, but between Jay’s effort and the Heart Eyes killer seeing their chemistry, they find themselves trauma bonding and, when not trying to save the company, trying to save each other’s lives.
Character Descriptions
Ally (Olivia Holt)
Ally originally wanted to get into the medical field, inspired by a sick family member, but with the sight of blood making her queasy, she shifted to marketing. In some ways, shifting or running from what makes her uncomfortable is presented as what she does, for her last relationship seemingly ended when she felt off as well.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Laid.”
Jay (Mason Gooding)
Jay is a freelancer who travels across the United States for different marketing gigs. While at some places, like Boston and Philadelphia, he tries to make time to date, but without having a firm home base, it seems while love would be nice, it has been on the back burner.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Aftermath.”
Review
Highlights
- Jay and Allie Are Cute Together [80/100]
Would I say what Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding present pushes the idea they should star in a rom-com or straight-up romance together? No. However, they both are able to provide a sense of likability, which can get you invested in not only the potential of their relationship but also whether they live or die.
Their opposite takes on romance, from Jay being a hopeless romantic to Ally seeing romance as hopeless, also adds something to the combination, and while, again, it is more so the individual actors being likable and attractive than attractive together, there is enough of an effort to see this as a highlight rather than another case of the superficial mattering more than real chemistry.
- Balancing Being Bloody And Comical [82/100]
The Heart Eyes Killer has multiple brutal kills, some of which are seen in the trailer and others on par in the movie. But, what “Heart Eyes” also has is comedy. It isn’t a major, laughing throughout the movie, type of comedy, but enough of a chuckle to be something that can be seen as an asset.
Low Points
- The Killer Reveal [64/100]
How the killer is revealed and their motive, is where “Heart Eyes” may lose many people. Frankly, it feels dumb and uninspired in ways that can make even the bloody end of the movie frustrating. This is a shame, for while there isn’t a direct sequel setup, it is hinted that the Heart Eyes Killer has inspired people to take up the mask. But considering the motive of the OG killers here, I hope this does well enough for more original horror films but not so well that it inspires someone to start a franchise – especially if they wish to keep a similar formula.
Overall
Our Rating (75/100): Mixed (Divisive)
“Heart Eyes” is fun and will quench the thirst of those who enjoy horror movies featuring serial killers. But it lacks multiple elements needed for you to believe this deserves to join “M3gan” and others in being modern horror franchises.
Content Information
- Dialog: Cursing
- Violence: Gun Violence, Gore, Blood, Torture, Notable Fight Scenes
- Sexual Content: Nudity (Mild), Sexual Situations (Implied)
- Miscellaneous: Depiction of Corpses, Body Horror, Vomiting
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