Shrewd ‘Heart Eyes’ Delivers Laughs, Scares and Romance

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There’s plenty to spoof about horror movies.

Poor choices, overused plot devices, characters who spare nearly defeated villains for another fight.

Been there, “Scream’d” that.

Heart Eyes” doesn’t limit its satire to a single genre; it also targets romantic comedies. This clever parody offers a double-edged critique that might leave you on the edge of your seat with laughter.

How efficient. How entertaining.

The Heart Eyes Killer, or HEK, has transformed Valentine’s Day into a nerve-wracking event. This malefactor travels from one city to another, viciously attacking couples on February 14th each year.

It’s not really relevant to Ally (Olivia Holt) as she’s currently healing from a fresh breakup and has grown disillusioned with Valentine’s Day. However, she encounters a charming stranger named Jay (Mason Gooding), who surprisingly becomes her fierce rival at work, in what seems like the start of a classic romantic encounter.

It’s quite serendipitous, isn’t it? That’s exactly the idea. “Heart Eyes” satirizes common tropes from various film genres, yet it reserves its most effective jabs for horror movies and romantic comedies.

It seems that Heart Eyes has taken an interest in Ally’s neighborhood, and a feigned kiss appears to be drawing the villain closer to her.

As I settled into my seat for “Heart Eyes,” the movie kicked off with a duo of kills that had me laughing out loud – yes, they were gruesome, but there was an undeniably comedic charm to them. The opening set the stage for what promised to be a solid film, and it’s clear that director Josh Ruben is in his element and ready to showcase his talent.

In the upcoming part of the story, we meet Ally’s dearest friend (Gigi Zumbado), who steals some scenes here and there. Additionally, Michaela Watkins, another scene thief, takes a few more as Ally’s silver-haired boss.

Both actresses get killer lines and swat them out of the park.

The murderer is yet at large, and Ruben skillfully infuses tension into the pursuit sequences. In one particularly gripping scene, taking place within Ally’s residence, it’ll leave you grasping your seat in fright.

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In a blend of humor and suspense, both Holt and Gooding exhibit charm and stability, navigating personal relationship issues while also facing life-threatening situations. There’s a significant amount of laughter throughout most of the narrative, but the final act leans more towards terror.

It’s amusing whenever a duo halts their activities to process their emotions. Hang tight, Winky-Face Whiz, we need to resolve this situation first.

Thanks, Mmkay!

The hints towards the “Scream” series, while adding something, could also benefit from a more thorough revision in the third act, as it resembles some less appealing aspects of the series created by Wes Craven.

It’s tough not to appreciate “Heart Eyes.” Its music selection is fantastic, its script is both insightful and humorous, and even its less successful jokes manage to elicit a grin.

Labeling the detectives in charge of the murder case as “Hobbs” and “Shaw” (played by Devon Sawa and Jordana Brewster) serves as a prime example. Go ahead, roll your eyes if you must. The film’s playful atmosphere effectively makes it appealing.

At certain moments, the movie’s rapid tempo can be challenging to maintain – a comment seldom made about contemporary films. The originality in this production could fill not one, but three movies.

Can you recall the last occasion when a blend of horror and comedy like “Heart Eyes” exceeded expectations that much? Frankly, it’s hard for us to recollect.

HiT or Miss: “Heart Eyes” is the laugh-out-loud horror comedy we needed.

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2025-02-01 06:03