John’s Horror Corner: Heart Eyes (2025), a Valentine’s Day horror-comedy mixing graphic gore into its cute RomCom.

MY CALL: This genre mash-up offers a fun popcorn horror night that keeps things playful and cute, while still packing some brutal kills and gory effects! MOVIES LIKE Heart Eyes: For it’s fun and feisty atmosphere, this would pair well with Happy Death Day (2017). For more Valentine’s Day horror, try My Bloody Valentine (1981, 2009), Valentine (2001), and Holidays (2016). You might also consider Warm Bodies (2013) and Return of the Living Dead part III (1993).

This smart horror-comedy opens strong with fast-paced stalking murder, deliciously despicable characters we yearn to see splattered, and laughably gross, eye-popping gore. Yet despite this “clearly gruesome, mean, slasher horror” opening, the movie also feels like a clever twentysomething Rom-Com, complete with a square love interest Ally (Olivia Holt; Totally Killer, This Is Not a Test), her meet-cute with her love interest slash corporate competitor Jay (Mason Gooding; Scream, Scream 6-7), a spunky best friend, and even an energetically scored makeover-shopping montage.

The Heart Eyes Killer has already claimed his first couple this Valentine’s Day as Ally and Jay meet for a shmancy work dinner which Jay keeps angling into a date. And yes, the killer is coming for them! And as he does, this movie bobs and weaves seamlessly between pulse-racing horror action and humorously reminding us of the chemistry between our couple. It may make for some unexpected breaks from the grimy horror vibe… but it’s also quite charming. For a bit more silliness, Detectives Hobbs (Devon Sawa; Final Destination, Idle Hands, Black Friday) and Shaw (Jordana Brewster; The Faculty, TCM: The Beginning, Fast Five, Fast & Furious 6) are on the case… Hobbs & Shaw.

We have the macabre pleasure of seeing victims crushed and smushed, stabbed through a camera, stabbed in the crotch, shot with arrows, all sorts of slashing (of course), a sweet sex scene death, a disgusting vomit scene, and impaled through the face. So, make no mistake. Despite all the nice RomCommy stuff, this is still probably the slasher you should be looking for when searching and bickering over a movie for the evening across four streaming apps with your date.

Director Josh Ruben (Werewolves Within) is making a name for himself with uncharacteristic horror. His movies are just askew from the mainstream in a way I find refreshing. The violent finale was a bit disengaging for my taste (plot-wise)—while still gory, really quite wild and high energy. Overall, this movie is better than I expected it to be. And it makes for a fun popcorn horror night that keeps things light, even a bit playful and romantic, while still packing some brutal kills and gory effects.