Some films aim for substance, while others exist purely to entertain—their production values designed primarily with this goal in mind. The 2025 slasher “Heart Eyes” falls firmly into the latter category.
Cupid’s Curse
“Heart Eyes” follows a masked killer with a fondness for slaughtering couples on Valentine’s Day. The murderer’s motivation remains deliberately vague beyond a twisted obsession with romance. The film opens with a deceptively tender scene that establishes the romantic backdrop before unleashing the heart-eyed slasher’s bloody rampage.
Running a tight 87 minutes, “Heart Eyes” marks director Josh Reuben’s first major studio release, according to the Hollywood Reporter, following other projects “Die Hart” and “Scare Me.” At the center of this bloodbath are two mismatched advertising professionals—one struggling, one brought in as a savior—who unwittingly become the objects of the killer’s grotesque affection.
A Fitting Start
The film starts with a gruesome hook that immediately sets the tone for what follows—a slasher through and through. As Final Draft notes in their genre analysis, “A slasher movie will share similar tropes and concepts. One in particular is the killer. It’s not enough to have some random weapon-wielding psychopath; there needs to be a reason they’re going on their killing spree.” “Heart Eyes” fulfills this criterion, though that motivation remains a mystery until the film’s latter half, offering viewers slightly more narrative payoff than many of its genre counterparts.
The Ties That Bind
The film cleverly aligns its killer’s identity, purpose, and weapon of choice. The “Heart Eyes” murderer dispatches victims with arrows (a clear homage to Cupid) and, as Final Draft observes, “leaves the hearts of their victims on the ground inside a drawn heart.”
To The Heart of the Matter
While there’s nothing particularly extraordinary about this film, it delivers exactly what hack-and-slash fans crave. The eventual reveal of the killer’s identity and true motivation offers a modest twist, though nothing revolutionary. Overall, it’s a competent slasher that operates comfortably within its genre parameters—neither overwhelming nor underwhelming. It simply performs.
For those interested, “Heart Eyes” is currently streaming on Netflix.
Uncut Diamonds 