NEW YORK (OSV News) – Roses are red… and so is the flood of gore that mars the Valentine’s Day-themed slasher flick “Heart Eyes” (Screen Gems). That’s a shame because a more circumspect approach to mayhem might have made director Josh Ruben’s film a reasonably engaging thriller.
Indeed, for long interludes, the movie plays like a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of a crime spree.
Professionally beleaguered Seattle-based advertising agent Ally (Olivia Holt) meets handsome stranger Jay (Mason Gooding) at her local coffee shop. But their initially cute meet swiftly goes awry after she accidentally injures him.
It subsequently develops that Jay is a rising star in the industry who’s been brought to town to salvage Ally’s latest campaign. Despite their potential office rivalry and surface antagonism, however, neither can evade their underlying mutual attraction.
In the news, meanwhile, are blaring headlines heralding the annual return of the masked serial killer of the title — who only preys on couples every 14th of February. This oddly controlled murderer soon targets Ally and Jay, and they spend most of the remainder of the picture trying to avoid his or her unwelcome attentions.
While on the run, the duo bond. Ally’s cynical outlook on love is complemented by Jay’s hopeless romanticism. But any attempt at introducing a convincing human element into the proceedings gets swamped amid a flood of bloodletting and the graphic depiction of gruesome homicides as characters and extras are sliced, diced, impaled and even liquified.
The film contains excessive bloody violence, including several sickening visuals, brief irreverent humor, some sexual comedy, a couple of instances each of profanity and crass talk, about a dozen mild oaths, pervasive rough language, numerous crude terms and obscene gestures. The OSV News classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
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