Warning: SPOILERS forHeart Eyes.Valentine’s Day slasherHeart Eyesis largely making waves for its comedic twist on the genre, but the writing team deserves some appreciation for a rare ability they’ve given their killer as well. AsHeart Eyes’ charactersflee the eponymous masked murderer, the film finds ample time to poke fun at both horror movies and rom-coms. EvenHeart Eyes’ end-credits scenefinds time to lampoon horror conventions. But jokes like these only tend to work when the horror aspects of the film are equally well-executed.
That’s not a problem forHeart Eyes. Two of the film’s three screenwriters previously wroteFreaky, with one of them also having worked on films likeHappy Death Day. Both films are known by horror fans as extremely effective comedies, but they also very lovingly embrace the conventions of splatter films. The Heart Eyes Killer boasts numerous similarities to famous slashers like Jason Voorhees, but HEK’s primary difference is what sets the film apart. And by the time ofHeart Eyes’ twist endingreveal, it’s clear that one particular aspect of the Heart Eyes Killer could have received more attention.
Heart Eyes Confirms The Killer’s Goggles Have Night Vision
The Scene In The Police Station Shows HEK’s Perspective
After protagonists Ally and Jay first encounter the titular Heart Eyes Killer, the police wind up arresting and interrogating Jay. When Ally heads to the precinct in an effort to clear Jay’s name, the breaker switches off as HEK begins to hunt Ally and Jay through the darkened police station. Notably,this is when HEK’s eyes light up to reflect the killer’s appearance in marketing materials. But while theHeart Eyes Killer’s maskis definitely among the most marketable features of the film, these red lights actually serve a deadly purpose.
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Soon after the lights go out, the movie briefly switches to the killer’s point of view, revealing thatHeart Eyes' mask designallows the wearer to see in the dark. This isn’t the first time the film shows the killer’s perspective, and the lack of red filter over the POV shot from earlier in the film makes it apparent thatHEK’s night vision is something that can be turned on and off. The scene at the police station demonstrates why this is useful, but that also raises the question of why horror fans don’t get to see it more often.
Horror Movies Rarely Give Killers Night Vision Abilities (Despite How Practical It Is)
Several Killers Would Benefit From Seeing In The Dark
It’s been noted by several viewers thatHeart EyesandScreamshare multiple similarities, but Ghostface certainly isn’t running around in night vision goggles. It took Ghostface long enough to even figure out how guns work. And in reality, so many horror movies take place at night thatalmost any killer could make thorough use of night vision capabilities. Yet it rarely seems to pop up. TheFriday the 13thfranchise frequently places victims in the middle of pitch-black woods with no flashlights, yet there’s little explanation for how Jason and his mother are able to perfectly spot their prey.
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That’s not to say no horror movies utilize night vision in some form, although often with some caveats.Buffalo Bill uses night vision goggles against Clarice, althoughmovies likeSilence of the Lambsare often considered more on the side of the thriller genre than straight horror.Predatoris more of an action franchise, although some later installments do lean slightly more into horror.Leprechaun: Originsfeatures similar heat vision toPredator, but it’s so poorly executed that it’s hard to tell how much the leprechaun can actually discern. But these nitpicks aside,Heart Eyescomes with its own caveat.
Heart Eyes Underutilizes The Killer’s Night Vision Goggles
There Were So Many More Opportunities To Feature Them
Between the marketability of the lit-up mask’s aesthetic and its usefulness as a hunting tool, it’s kind of strange thatthe scene in the police station is the only scene to demonstrate Heart Eyes’ night vision ability. WhileHeart Eyesstill has enough going for it to become the third critically praised film among directorJosh Ruben’s horror movies, this feels like a major weakness in the script. The botanical garden chase suggests moonlight as the only prominent light source, and the scene in the winery would have enhanced the film’s opening by featuring HEK’s perspective even once.
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The twist about the killer’s identity in the horror film Heart Eyes may have surprised some, but there are multiple hints that foreshadow the truth.
It’s still a strong movie and arguably worlds better than actorOlivia Holt’s last horror comedy, butHeart Eyessimply doesn’t seem aware of how much potential HEK’s goggles could have provided. The finale’s big reveal allows for there to be at least up to three “real” versions of the mask, excluding the store-bought replicas worn by background extras, so it’s possible that only one mask actually included the night vision feature. But while this provides a story-based excuse, it’s still unfortunate that the movie’s most iconic image ultimately goes to waste in the finished film.
Heart Eyes
Cast
In Heart Eyes, two co-workers working late on Valentine’s Day are mistaken for a couple by the infamous Heart Eyes Killer. Directed by Josh Ruben and written by Michael Kennedy and Christopher Landon, the film stars Mason Gooding and Olivia Holt.
