Mason Gooding’s latest horror flick, Heart Eyes, unfolds a chilling tale on Valentine’s Day, and the trailer has just dropped. This contemporary slasher film is ideal for those fans eager for innovative spins on this beloved subgenre.
Variety reports that the official description of the movie is as follows:
As the Heart Eyes Killer targets Seattle, two co-workers who are burning the midnight oil on Valentine’s Day are mistaken for a couple by the elusive murderer. They must navigate the most romantic night of the year while trying to escape for their lives.
The trailer reveals that Gooding and Olivia Holt’s characters embark on a romantic journey, only to have their lives disrupted by the Heart Eyes Killer. Ally (Holt) discovers the masked antagonist lurking in her bedroom closet. A news reporter shares that this killer has been targeting couples every Valentine’s Day for several years, leaving everyone puzzled about the motive. The plot adheres to the classic slasher formula, with time running out as the protagonists struggle to survive and unravel the mystery.
Heart Eyes is being produced by Divide/Conquer and Spyglass Media Group, with a script from Christopher Landon, Michael Kennedy, and Philip Murphy. Spyglass is well-known for its productions like Scream, Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving, and the 2022 Hellraiser remake. Christopher Landon has made a name for himself in the horror genre with films like Freaky, Happy Death Day, and We Have a Ghost. He was originally slated to direct Scream 7 but left the project in December 2023, leading to Kevin Williamson taking over the directing duties.
Gooding and Holt have both made their mark in the horror and thriller genres. Gooding gained recognition for his role as Chad Meeks-Martin in Scream (2022) and Scream 6, while Holt appeared in the first season of the teen thriller Cruel Summer. Gooding is set to return as Chad in Scream 7 and has also recently featured in Kyle Mooney’s horror film Y2K, in addition to his work on Heart Eyes.
While there are plenty of horror films set during Christmas and numerous ones featuring Halloween festivities, it’s quite uncommon to find a horror movie that revolves around Valentine’s Day. In contrast to the somewhat cheesy 2001 flick Valentine, the trailer for Heart Eyes gives off a truly chilling vibe. One can’t help but wonder about the identity of the killer and their motives for targeting couples on this love-filled day. It’s not hard to envision a sequel to Heart Eyes or even a series featuring copycat killers themed around different holidays.
Heart Eyes is set to hit theaters on February 7th, 2025, giving fans the opportunity to catch Gooding on the big screen ahead of the release of Scream 7 in February 2026.