You Won’t Believe the Ridiculous Way Two New Movies Killed Off Characters with a Drinking Straw

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CAUTION: The upcoming article divulges crucial plot points from the recently released films “Heart Eyes” and “Love Hurts” from 2025. If you have not yet watched these movies, be aware that spoilers are present in this content. Proceed with care as you absorb this information.

For couples looking forward to spending Valentine’s Day weekend at the movies, there are several intriguing and thematically fitting options available. These include a chilling romantic horror movie titled “Heart Eyes” and a light-hearted romantic action-comedy called “Love Hurts“. Not only do these films take place on Valentine’s Day, they also embody traditional romantic comedy themes, and remarkably, both were released during this year’s Super Bowl weekend. What’s more, these movies share an unexpected link that I never anticipated.

Each film features a scene where a character is murdered using a drinking straw – an unexpected occurrence that I won’t delve into trying to explain. Instead, I want to discuss how the movies “Heart Eyes” and “Love Hurts” portray this unusual murder method on screen, and why I think one surpasses the other in almost every aspect. First, let’s examine what transpires in each scene.

In “Heart Eyes,” the straw is used as a weapon of assassination in a fast-paced and suspenseful sequence filled with tension and surprise. The camera work, editing, and sound design all contribute to creating an intense atmosphere that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Moreover, the character’s death serves a significant plot point, adding depth and complexity to the storyline.

On the other hand, “Love Hurts” presents a more subtle and nuanced approach to the straw murder scene. The sequence is slower-paced, focusing on the emotions and reactions of the characters involved, rather than relying on action or shock value. This method allows for a deeper exploration of the human psyche, making the moment even more impactful and memorable.

Ultimately, both films handle the unique murder scene in their own distinct ways, but I find “Heart Eyes” to be the superior choice due to its masterful execution of tension, suspense, and story development. However, “Love Hurts” should not be overlooked for its thought-provoking portrayal of emotion and character depth.

The Drinking Straw Kill In Heart Eyes

In a fresh take on traditional slasher films, director Josh Ruben’s latest horror production, titled “Heart Eyes“, combines humor, romance, and chills. The plot revolves around two colleagues, Ally (Olivia Holt) and Jay (Mason Gooding, reprising his role for Scream 7), who find themselves in a peculiar predicament as they are mistaken for lovers by the titular masked killer. This killer is infamous for hunting couples around Valentine’s Day.

In the finale titled “Heart Eyes“, Ally, now understanding that she’s fallen for Jay, ventures to a chapel on Valentine’s Day to save him from the villains. It turns out that these villains are a pair who derive pleasure from murdering couples. Their rule comes to an end when Jay fatally shoots David (Yoson An) in the head, and Ally, having no other choice, defends herself against David’s partner, Det. Jeanette Shaw (Jordana Brewster), by stabbing her with a reusable straw she always carries.

The Drinking Straw Kill In Love Hurts

Love Hurts intertwines violence, humor, and romance, drawing inspiration not from traditional horror films, but from renowned action movies such as John Wick. In this film, the talented Ke Huy Quan portrays Marvin Gable, a real estate agent grappling with his past as an assassin for his mafia boss brother, Alvin ‘Knuckles’ Gable (Daniel Wu).

In the scene, Knuckles, an avid boba tea drinker, encounters Cliff Cussick, a friend of Marvin’s boss, in a situation where he needs to know Cliff’s location. However, when Cliff refuses to divulge this information, Knuckles takes the straw from his recently consumed boba tea and brutally attacks Cliff with it, effectively causing severe brain damage. (Sean Astin, who starred alongside Quan in the cherished family movie, The Goonies, plays the role of Cliff Cussick.)

Why Heart Eyes’ Drinking Straw Kill Works Better

Even if I didn’t think “Heart Eyes” was an outstanding horror rom-com or share the severe criticisms of “Love Hurts,” I would still prefer the slasher’s drinking straw kill scene for several reasons. To begin with, both movies make the straw a significant characteristic of their characters, but “Heart Eyes” does so in a more believable and less contrived manner than Knuckles’ excessive boba tea obsession.

Moving on, both scenes share a campy vibe, but the death in “Heart Eyes” aligns well with its recurring joke about the reusable straw, while the attempt to make Cliff’s demise in “Love Hurts” emotionally impactful is undermined by the preposterous choice of weapon. Lastly, although both deaths are inherently absurd, “Heart Eyes” earns brownie points for plausibility. Ally’s metal straw seems more likely to be lethal compared to Knuckles’ plastic straw, despite its sharp end.

It’s interesting to point out a curious link between the emoticon “Heart Eyes” and this year’s “Scream“, setting aside the fact they both star Mason Gooding. This observation doesn’t focus on the actor, but rather the characters. In the reboot of “Scream“, Chad Meeks-Martin refers to his biceps as “Hobbs and Shaw,” a nod to Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham’s roles in the “Fast and Furious” series, which happens to be the names of the detectives in “Heart Eyes“, portrayed by Jordana Brewster (a familiar face from that action franchise) and Devon Sawa. Furthermore, this connection extends beyond just the drinking straw murder reference to “Love Hurts“. It’s coincidences like these that, for me, enhance the joy of being a movie enthusiast.

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2025-02-17 13:37