[Rating: Solid Rock Fist Up]
I love that horror is finding its way back to movie theaters. Whether it’s body horror finding critical acclaim like last year’s The Substance or experimental works with In a Violent Nature, the movies—specifically horror movies—are back baby! One of my favorite sub-genres, comedy horror is always guaranteed to be a fun way to spend an evening at a movie theater. How delighted I was that Heart Eyes (directed by Josh Ruben) has fulfilled this criteria as one of the most fun horror comedies in a bit.
The Heart Eyes killer is on the prowl. For years, the killer has stalked unsuspecting couples and murdered them in gruesome ways. The opening scene to this film has one of the most surprising and funny deaths I would have never thought of. (Eat your heart out at any Final Destination movie!) In Seattle, marketing designer Ally (Olivia Holt) is having a hard time with love. Her latest ad campaign for jewelry designer-boss Crystal (Michaela Watkins) is based on the famous deaths of tortured lovers in a city where Heart Eyes has made themselves known! Crystal hires Jay Simmons (Mason Gooding), a freelance marketing agent who is there to guide Ally into creating a much better marketing campaign before Crystal effectively fires Ally.
Jay invites Ally out on a working date, much to her chagrin and much to her dismay on Valentine’s Day. Soon, while their “date” doesn’t turn out as planned, they are now running from their lives as Heart Eyes stalks their next victims – Ally and Jay. Hot on Heart Eyes’ trail is Detective Hobbs (Devon Sawa) and Shaw (Jordana Brewster) who will stop at nothing to make sure Heart Eyes ends their crime spree in Seattle.
What a fun ride! I really like that since Happy Death Day, horror movies have added layers of comedy to them to ease some of the more gruesomeness that they can contain.
Heart Eyes isn’t shy with how brutal it can get, and yet it knows how to have so much fun and make sure its audience is in for a good thrill. With less rom-coms in theaters and on streaming, it’s a damn treat that Heart Eyes has come to theaters, certain to entertain even non horror fans!
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
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