The film titled “Heart Eyes” dominates the Valentine’s Day box office with its unique blend of romantic comedies and bloody slasher humor. In this movie, Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding play Seattle advertising executives who find themselves in a deadly predicament after meeting by chance. As fate would have it, their encounter turns out to be a death sentence as they flee for survival while maintaining a humorous flirtatious banter.
Director Josh Ruben, renowned for “Scare Me” and his exceptional adaptation of “Werewolves Within,” kick-started his career in sketch comedy and CollegeHumor shorts. In an interview with MovieWeb, Ruben attributes his early experiences to the strong working dynamic he built with the talented cast of “Heart Eyes,” which also includes Jordana Brewster and Devon Sawa.
When communicating with my actors, I strive to use the same tone and approach that I would appreciate. This starts by setting the right atmosphere, or vibe. As a director, you need to exude confidence, similar to a cruise captain, but at the same time, establish an environment where actors feel empowered to take creative risks.
Ruben shared that Sam Richardson, the actor from “Werewolves Within,” subtly imitates his co-stars in a way that’s almost unnoticeable. Ruben himself isn’t sure how or why this happens, but it gives the performances a subtle, realistic touch as if he’s slipping into the actors’ roles. Ruben acknowledges he doesn’t have all the explanations, but feels his actors appreciate this approach when it’s a demonstration of something he thinks is theoretically well-executed. On screen, this technique is evident in the charming exchanges between Holt and Gooding, which cleverly satirize rom-com clichés.
“Their dialogues are sincere and exposing, yet there’s an underlying element in the scene that seems to contradict or undermine their interaction. Another is clearly comical on the surface and heavily inspired by romantic comedy tropes. These were both added at the last minute, made under pressure, and significantly influenced by my comedic past and affection for this genre.
Creating the Heart Eyes Killer & Making a Sequel
As a devoted fan, I found myself captivated by the sparse portrayal of the antagonist in the script. Instead, my mind conjured up an intriguing image – a sinister take on the heart eyes emoji. This twisted character wielded not just love but also deadly weapons, such as a machete and crossbow.
Inspired by “Jason Lives,” the sixth installment of the Friday the 13th franchise, I decided to infuse this figure with a touch of Batman’s grit – why not equip him with a comprehensive utility belt brimming with tools of destruction? As I delved deeper into my imaginative process, I began to craft a serial killer who was as lethal as he was intriguing.
In my own creative touch, the glowing eyes were entirely my contribution; he lacked night vision capabilities. One of the opening lines I used was, “This character sports heart-shaped eyes.” Given it’s a Valentine’s Day film, we’re craving that symbolism. We’re yearning for red eyes in the dark scenes. As a horror enthusiast and part of this fandom community, I enjoy purchasing the merchandise – t-shirts and figurines. Let’s capitalize on this by offering merchandise! Let’s encourage fans to dress up as this character for Halloween events.
Ruben feels there’s plenty of unexplored territory “beyond what was shown in the movie.” His enthusiasm for a sequel aligned perfectly with writers Christopher Landon and Michael Kennedy as soon as they discussed it. Ruben emphasized that there are definitely more adventures to be had, implying there’s room for additional action scenes and developments, expressing this by saying: “There are certainly more stories to tell, and there’s certainly more excitement to create.
Regardless of whether you choose a romantic comedy setup like ‘Pretty Woman’ or ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’, Heart Eyes will likely be drawn in. The key is to maintain an authentic emotional resonance, avoiding overt winking at the rom-com genre, and instead focusing on creating a truly frightening atmosphere when needed. If we can achieve a level of quality that rivals the best work by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in their romantic comedies, and match the horror mastery of Wes Craven, then we’ve truly succeeded.
Heart Eyes is currently in theaters from Sony Pictures.
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2025-02-11 01:03