Heart Eyes: A Horror-Comedy Adventure

In the realm of horror-comedy, few filmmakers manage to strike the right balance of humor and gore quite like Josh Ruben. With his latest endeavor, Heart Eyes, he takes us on a whirlwind adventure through a Valentine’s Day filled with both romance and mayhem. Blending tropes from romantic comedies with the chilling antics of a serial killer, Ruben sets the scene for a uniquely chaotic experience. As the film unfolds, audiences find themselves caught in a cross-city chase that’s as much about love as it is about survival, showcasing a delightful mix of sweetness and savagery. Join me as we dive into this quirky horror flick and explore the charms and missteps of Heart Eyes.

Heart Eyes

Heart Eyes is a 2025 American romantic comedy slasher film directed by Josh Ruben, and written by Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon (who also produces), and Michael Kennedy. The film stars Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa, and Jordana Brewster.

It was was theatrically released on February 7, 2025, by Sony Pictures Releasing in North America and by Republic Pictures through Paramount Pictures internationally.

For the past several years, the “Heart Eyes Killer” has wreaked havoc on Valentine’s Day by stalking and murdering romantic couples. This Valentine’s Day, no couple is safe…

Directed by:Josh Ruben

Written by:Phillip Murphy and Christopher Landon & Michael Kennedy

In theaters

A Horror Movie Review by Hope Madden

There is an undeniable goofy sweetness to Josh Ruben’s horror films, no matter the body count or blood flow or number of people with holes so big in their throats that you can see the characters behind them.

Heart Eyes is the latest from the Werewolves Within and Scare Me director. The new film, fit for the holiday, trails a serial killer slicing and dicing through couples every Valentine’s Day. It’s Year 3, and the marauder has moved from Boston to Philly to set up shop for this year’s gore soaked romance in Seattle.

Just as Ally (Olivia Holt)—still stinging from how quickly her ex moved on after their breakup—has to work with advertising fixer Jay (Mason Gooding) to right the marketing campaign she seems to have tanked beyond repair.

But when the Heart Eyes Killer mistakes the colleagues for lovebirds, a cross-city chase begins.

The script penned by Phillip Murphy (Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard), along with Christopher Landon (Freaky, Happy Death Day 2 U) and Michael Kennedy (Freaky, It’s a Wonderful Knife), trots out rom com tropes as often as machetes. From meet cute to grand gesture at the airport to a string of classic romcom titles worked into dialog, Heart Eyes wears its influences on its sleeve.

The glossy “the city is its own character” filming, the amiable chemistry between Holt and Gooding, and their unreasonable good looks center the romance, but Ruben does not go light on the gore. Nor is he skimpy with comedy, although he can’t seem to settle on a tone for the humor. He veers from witty to broadly comedic to gallows and back, leaving the film feeling slightly haphazard.

Heart Eyes is also drawn out a bit too long. The finale, though plenty bloody, feels more forced than satisfying. But it’s a fun, gory, sweetly romantic waste of time, just like Valentine’s Day.