Heart Eyes: A Slasher Rom-Com Blending Love and Horror This Valentine’s Day

Heart Eyes: The Slasher Rom-Com That’s Making Hearts Race (and Bleed) This Valentine’s Season

Tired of old rom-com clichés? Want something edgy? Buckle up. In 2025, a Valentine's Day massacre hits with Heart Eyes. Forget chocolates. This film offers machetes and exploding heads beside your meet-cute. It’s way more thrilling than typical rom-coms or even action flicks like Love Hurts.

What’s the Heart-Stopping Story? (Synopsis and Genre)

Picture a masked maniac with glowing red eyes planning couple-cide on Valentine’s Day. That's Heart Eyes. A charming setup, right? The synopsis is simple: a ghoulish figure returns each year to hunt lovebirds. Ally, a cynical ad executive, and Jay, her romantic colleague, are targets. They decide to fight back. They want to survive until February 15th.

In terms of genre, Heart Eyes dives into slasher romantic comedy. It mixes screams and laughs, gore and giggles. Vulture notes horror-comedy is thriving, and Heart Eyes leads with genre-bending style.

Setting the Scene: Seattle... Kind Of

The film is set in Seattle, Washington. Picture the Emerald City known for coffee and rain, plus masked killers. Seattle’s urban charm and natural beauty create a great backdrop for the chaos. Yet, in a classic film twist, while the narrative is in Seattle, filming occurs in Auckland, New Zealand. The stunning landscapes deliver Seattle vibes. Movie magic!

Release Date and Rating: When Can You Get Your Heart Pounding?

Heart Eyes hit theaters on February 7, 2025, right before Valentine’s week. It got an R rating from the MPAA due to its carnage. You need to be at least 17 for solo entry; younger fans can bring a parent or guardian, if willing. Cinemark and AMC enforce ratings strictly, so don’t sneak in if underage! Only if your parent is okay with graphic violence, including impalements.

Streaming Soon? How to Watch Heart Eyes

Currently, Heart Eyes remains in theaters. It hasn’t moved to digital or streaming yet. You can rent or buy it on video-on-demand platforms, like Prime Video. It costs around $24.99 to purchase or $19.99 for a 48-hour rental on platforms such as Prime Video, AppleTV, and Fandango at Home.

Now for streaming: Netflix gained exclusive U.S. rights for Sony Pictures’ releases starting in 2022. Since Heart Eyes is a Sony production, it’ll appear on Netflix eventually. Be patient, horror fans. Although you can buy it on Prime Video, no free streaming with the subscription. Watch for Heart Eyes on Netflix.

Plot Thickens (Without Getting Too Mushy): Ally, Jay, and a Killer with LED Issues

Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding star as Ally and Jay. They are *not* a couple and are keen to remind you. The Heart Eyes killer, with an LED mask that terrifies couples, focuses on romance. Despite their friendship, Ally and Jay become targets. Why? That creates the twisted fun. Their chemistry is part of the entertainment. Will they survive? Will love happen amid chaos? Expect quirky tropes.

The film contains fake-out reveals about the killer’s identity and motives. You’ll laugh at the absurdity. Ally and Jay end up fighting back. Reports mention a physical struggle where they “overcome and kill the two s...”—implying they hit back against killers with a surprising lack of resistance. Expect a thrilling showdown.

Brace Yourself: The Gore Factor (Violence and Graphic Content)

If squeamish, bring a pillow. Heart Eyes doesn’t hold back on violence. Expect graphic depictions, including impalements and slashings. There's a memorable scene with a machete plunged into a man's eye, complete with blood spatter. Another highlight involves an arrow through a man's head, with realistic blood flow.

The violence is extreme, over-the-top, and absolutely gory. Expect stabbings, a head-crushing scene (eyes popping!), and that head explosion we mentioned. If you want subtle horror, go elsewhere. This is horror cranked to eleven, mixed with dark humor.

Unmasking the Mayhem: Meet the Killer(s)

Get ready for a twist! More than one Heart Eyes killer exists. After Ally and Jay tackle who they *think* is the main culprit, Eli, two rogue detectives emerge: Detective Shaw, played by Jordana Brewster, and her husband, David, portrayed by Yoson An. It’s a detective duo gone rogue, turning Valentine's Day into their bloodbath. Multiple killers, multiple motives!

The Ending: Love, Death, and Decapitation (Spoiler Alert!)

How does this romantic slasher end? After a big struggle, Ally and Jay defeat the duo from hell. Ally decapitates Detective Shaw using a statue. Meanwhile, Jay shoots David with his own arrow. Justice prevails as heads roll. Amidst chaos, love blooms! The movie concludes with Ally and Jay engaged, hinting at a happy ending after all that horror.

Sequel Bait? And the My Bloody Valentine Question

Is Heart Eyes linked to My Bloody Valentine? No, it stands alone. However, don't dismiss potential future action. Not a sequel, but the movie hints at possibilities in its ending and credits. Director Josh Ruben is intrigued by a sequel inspired by rom-coms like Bridget Jones's Diary. Imagine Heart Eyes invading Christmas! The comedic possibilities are endless.

Final Verdict: Is Heart Eyes Worth Your Heart (and Money)?

If you seek a fresh, funny, and scary take on slasher films, Heart Eyes is worth your time. Collider notes the movie reached box office successes, showing its appeal. Whether you love or hate Valentine's Day, Heart Eyes offers a wild ride. It cements Josh Ruben’s reputation as a horror-comedy master.

Expect a dose of bloody fun in a genre filled with predictable scares! Maybe skip the romantic dinner after if you’re still digesting the gore.