No, Heart Eyes is not a true story. Spoiler alert: the Heart Eyes Killer? Totally made up. Not a shred of real-life news behind that creepy mask. But that doesn’t mean the movie came out of nowhere. Let’s talk about where it came from, who made it, and why it feels so eerily believable.
The Premise That Had Us All Hooked
Heart Eyes came out in 2025 and somehow managed to mash a rom-com with a slasher flick. Sounds like a disaster on paper, but it’s surprisingly awesome. Directed by Josh Ruben and written by Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon, and Michael Kennedy, the movie centers on a serial killer known as the Heart Eyes Killer (or HEK), who has a Valentine’s Day tradition of killing romantic couples.
But when HEK mistakes co-workers Ally McCabe (Olivia Holt) and Jay Simmons (Mason Gooding) for a couple, things go off the rails. These two aren’t even dating at least not at first but that doesn’t stop them from becoming the killer’s next targets. And once they start fighting back, the movie delivers everything from high-stakes suspense to laugh-out-loud awkward moments and an unexpected touch of real emotion.
So, Is Heart Eyes Based on a Real Killer?
In case you’re Googling the Heart Eyes Killer like I did… don’t bother. He’s fiction, all the way. You won’t find any news reports about a masked psycho targeting couples on Valentine’s Day. The entire story was imagined from scratch.
But there’s a reason it feels disturbingly realistic. According to co-writer Phillip Murphy, the idea came from a very human place: a bad date. Yes, seriously. Combine that with classic slasher inspirations think Wes Craven vibes and a little dark humor, and you’ve got a story that taps into the fear of romantic vulnerability.
Part of why this movie hits hard? It gets dating in 2025. The awkward silences, the second-guessing, the office gossip it’s all in there, bleeding into the story. These familiar themes ground the story, even as the blood starts to spill.
What’s the Killer’s Real Name in Heart Eyes?
Okay, here’s where things get juicy. If you’ve seen the film, you know that the Heart Eyes Killer isn’t just one person. In fact, it’s a trio and their reveal is one of the biggest twists in the movie.
The main mastermind? Jeanine Shaw, a seemingly trustworthy police detective. Her husband David, a mild-mannered IT guy, and an accomplice named Eli help carry out the killings. Together, they feed off a shared, twisted psychosexual obsession with destroying “perfect” couples. It’s creepy, unexpected, and disturbingly memorable.
So while the slasher wears a heart-eyed mask and stalks couples, the people behind the mask are shockingly normal which, let’s be honest, only makes it scarier.
Are There Two Killers? Actually, Make That Three
Yes, and then some. Most slasher flicks go for the lone-wolf model. Heart Eyes turns that on its head. There are three killers working together:
Jeanine (the detective, who you think is on your side),
David (her husband, blending into the tech world),
and Eli, their younger accomplice with a blank stare and a love of chaos.
They all share responsibility for the murders, and they all bring something different to the terrifying trio. It’s this group dynamic that makes Heart Eyes stand out in the slasher genre there’s a method, a psychology, and a real human ugliness behind the mask.
How Bad (or Good) Is Heart Eyes?
Let’s talk reception. You might expect a horror rom-com to land awkwardly too funny to scare, too scary to charm but Heart Eyes pulls it off. Audiences and critics mostly loved it.
Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 78% Tomatometer score and a 76% audience score, which is rare for a genre-blending film.
It grossed around $33 million worldwide on an $18 million budget, not a box office juggernaut, but a solid hit for a mid-budget horror.
After its theater release, it streamed on Netflix, shooting to #4 globally.
Call me surprised, but this one’s actually good. Like, rewatch-with-friends good. Easily one of the most fun horror flicks of the year. It’s sharp, stylish, and surprisingly heartfelt especially in how it handles Ally and Jay’s evolving relationship amid the chaos.
Why It Feels So Real (Even Though It’s Not)
The realism in Heart Eyes doesn’t come from a true story it comes from how believable the characters are.
Ally’s not your usual ‘run-and-scream’ girl. She cracks jokes, messes up, and somehow still keeps her cool when everything’s going off the rails.
Jay isn’t a one-note love interest; he’s awkward, funny, and unexpectedly brave.
They’re not boogeymen. They’re… people. Which honestly makes it worse.
And then there’s the setting. The film was shot in New Zealand but set in Seattle, and it captures the rainy, urban vibe perfectly. It’s moody, romantic, and scary all at once like if When Harry Met Sally ran headfirst into Scream.
What Really Inspired Heart Eyes?
You’ve probably noticed nods to slasher greats like Scream, Valentine, and Happy Death Day (which makes sense Christopher Landon worked on that last one). But this movie also takes from real-life experiences: the awkwardness of modern dating, the pressure of “couple goals,” and how even the nicest faces can hide dark truths.
The killer’s heart-eye emoji mask might seem silly at first. But it’s also genius. It captures our culture’s obsession with curated romance and social media perfection. The image we present doesn’t always match the truth behind it and in Heart Eyes, that truth gets bloody fast.
Does Heart Eyes Stick the Landing?
Absolutely. The movie doesn’t just rely on its twist; it earns it.
When Ally and Jay figure out who the killers are, it’s not a quick fix or a lucky escape. They go through the wringer mentally and physically. The final scenes are filled with tension, emotion, and yes, a little humor. By the time they finally take out Jeanine and David, you’re not just watching—you’re rooting for it. It’s messy, it’s brutal, and it feels right.
Would I be shocked if Netflix dropped a teaser for Heart Eyes 2 next Valentine’s Day? Not even a little.
Jessica Savitch, with a deep passion for journalism, brings her expertise to istruestory.com as a dedicated author. MA in Arts & Journalism.