All through Josh Ruben‘s sensible new Valentine’s Day slasher “Coronary heart Eyes,” potential suspects and would-be victims reference actual romantic comedies. “My Greatest Pal’s Marriage ceremony.” “Loopy Silly Love.” “Fairly Girl.” No matter your most well-liked chick flick — mixed with the predator-prey mania of “My Bloody Valentine” (and only a contact of the goofiness in “Scream 6”) — that must be sufficient to compel you towards this giddy and graphic whodunit. It’s a freaky celebration that confirms vacation horror, if it ever left, is so again, and a standout achievement within the deceptively dense class of latest romances throughout style comedy.
Foolish, slick, and self-aware, the newest farce from the “Werewolves Inside” director is laugh-out-loud humorous and boasts pops of gore that earn the comparability to Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving.” Though the killer pilgrim film from 2023 is extra stomach-churning than Ruben’s movie, this nutty mix of hyper-violence and one-liners is a darkish comedic delicacy. Characters choke down blood like chocolate and the zippy script (written by Phillip Murphy and Christopher Landon & Michael Kennedy) pairs nicely with two charismatic leads. And in a universe the place chemistry is a deadly legal responsibility, stars Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding will put you on the sting of your seat — or perhaps your date’s lap — quicker than you’ll be able to say “meat cute.”
A advertising and marketing skilled for a jewellery firm, Ally McCabe (Holt) sees her profession collide with true crime headlines when the “Coronary heart Eyes Killer” (“HEK” for brief) arrives in Seattle. A vicious villain recognized for attacking {couples} on February 14, the masked assassin dispatched greater than a dozen individuals between Boston and Philadelphia. Sadly, information of these tragic occasions failed to succeed in our heroine earlier than her ridiculous boss (Michaela Watkins) accredited a star-crossed lovers theme for his or her model’s nationwide advert marketing campaign. The homicide-laden promotional push, influenced as a lot by Ally’s lackluster relationship life as the rest, places her on the receiving finish of an involuntary rescue from the hunky freelancer/”shopper cupid” Jay Simmonds (Gooding) simply hours away from the Massive V.
Usually, it is best to keep away from getting hooked up to probably the most likable characters in a horror film. They don’t usually die first, however they have an inclination to die finally. And who wants that heartbreak? Resistance is futile relating to the unfortunate lovebirds in “Coronary heart Eyes” although, because the budding relationship between the reluctant Ally and the suave Jay confidently holds focus in opposition to the load of a literal bloodbath. Their cute office-born romance mutates from a will-they-won’t-they right into a lethal could-they-should-they. Caught someplace between an upper-crust Netflix rom-com and a recent “Scary Film,” the not-couple is compelled to flee hazard and handle their apparent attraction to 1 one other concurrently. Will a clandestine kiss on the sidewalk put the so-called “colleagues” in HEK’s crosshairs? The smooch was only a tactic to make Ally’s ex jealous, clearly, however such a sudden and spectacular show of ardour does put them on a collision course with native authorities.
Detectives Hobbs (Devon Sawa) and Shaw (Jordana Brewster) — robust contenders for this yr’s greatest joke character names — decide via clues with all of the urgency of a faculty child deciphering a crush through flower petals. The uselessness of regulation enforcement may be overplayed in some lesser horror movies to the purpose of shedding pressure. However when Shaw swipes via a relationship app in the course of a blood-soaked crime scene, “Coronary heart Eyes” establishes its distinctive and playful tone. Whether or not it’s Ally’s greatest pal Monica (Gigi Zumbado) chatting about her arthritis-addled sugar daddy, or Ally and Jay discovering a second to virtually kiss after virtually getting killed, the conflict between mild and darkish grows steadily extra hilarious. Swinging wildly between beats that can make you giggle after which scream, the chaos in “Coronary heart Eyes” steadily builds with out the humor rising stale or undercutting an excessive amount of terror.
Editor Brett W. Bachman (“Mandy,” “Pig”) retains the tempo at good the pace in dialogue-heavy scenes which may veer too near a psychotic “Gilmore Women” in any other case. A number of spectacular monologues, together with a cynical diatribe from Ally in a restaurant that grounds a lot of the primary act, exhibit Ruben’s knack for protecting his actors in the identical film. The buttoned-up main girl is advanced sufficient to earnestly promote the emotional arc of a lady who’s criminally unfortunate in love, whereas Jay is a hopeless idealist who is instantly fascinated with her however has sufficient self-respect to remain horny. Punny jokes from minor characters (suppose “I’ll finish you – on YELP!”) evoke the unusual cheeriness of a twisted greeting card, however the centerpiece relationship is refreshingly personable and genuine.
The right size for a primary date, “Coronary heart Eyes” boasts a stunning plot that goes locations shortly. It’s a extremely re-watchable trick you’ll wish to see pulled off twice, however Ruben would possibly do nicely to rethink this world’s visible model if it turns right into a multi-film dedication. The HEK masks design, evocative of a demented emoji, is haunting and the neon flourish across the literal coronary heart eyes makes for a menacing “Silence of the Lambs” basement impact. And but, for no matter motive, the director chooses to embrace a kind of grey wintery-ness throughout the remainder of the movie that’s evocative of “My Bloody Valentine” however makes for a generally muddied look. (With a lot pink and purple at your disposal, I’m simply undecided why you’d let a narrative this colourful look so… bland?)
Extra rose than thorn and extra state of affairs than -ship, “Coronary heart Eyes” will nonetheless be love at first sight for audiences drawn to favorites like “Heat Our bodies,” “Lisa Frankenstein,” “Heathers,” and extra. Riffing on the usually sexist tropes of the romance style whereas exploring the controversial nature of the slasher style is a troublesome job. And but, Ruben turns the grizzly ordeal into a movie so screamingly likable you’ll not solely be rooting for his important characters to outlive, however you’ll welcome the director’s smile-inducing cameo with open arms. If motion pictures like “Halloween” (2018) have taught us something, it’s that Fortunately Ever After isn’t all the time potential for characters in a horror film. With “Coronary heart Eyes,” that’s a very bittersweet actuality — however an amazing excuse for a sequel audiences will virtually actually need. Ally and Jay might show too good of characters to make it to morning, however Ruben’s newest movie formally exhausting launches the director as horror comedy’s quirky new boyfriend.
Grade: B+
From Display screen Gems and Spyglass Media Group, “Coronary heart Eyes” is in theaters nationwide on February 7.
Wish to keep updated on IndieWire’s movie evaluations and significant ideas? Subscribe right here to our newly launched e-newsletter, In Assessment by David Ehrlich, by which our Chief Movie Critic and Head Evaluations Editor rounds up one of the best new evaluations and streaming picks together with some unique musings — all solely accessible to subscribers.