October 21, 2025 • 22 mins
Coming in at number 11, 2025’s “Heart Eyes”. Each day in the month of October we will count you down to Halloween with our favorite, not-so-obvious guaranteed horror hits! We’ll tell you why each one made the list, what the critics say, who should watch it and who should NOT and what food/drink/atmosphere to pair it with each night…. And of course, where you can watch it.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Hey that folks. It is Tuesday, October the twenteenth first,
and the next movie on our horror hit list. It
could also be on our Valentine's Day movie countdown and
with that, Welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ.
We continue to count down our horror hit list, our
favorite horror movies that maybe you haven't heard of as
we get closer and closer to Valentine's Day. Is this
(00:31):
We talked about The Blackening. It's earlier on the list,
but this movie has to be the funnest one on
the list.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
I loved this movie so much.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Also, I went into it with really.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
High expectations because I thought, finally someone has made the
perfect date horror movie where you mix a rom com
with a horror movie, and I just didn't believe it
could be done well in both genres, and yet they
nailed it.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Like It's an.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Absolute hilarious, fun, over the top rom com satirical, almost
indefinitely satirical, and it's making fun of rom coms yet
perfectly formulaic in the rom com family, and then also
having amazing kills and horror and just a through line
of a rampaging, murderous villain who's going after lovebirds on
(01:26):
Valentine's Day?
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Folks, this is for us at least. This is the
perfect date movie. And we're talking about number eleven on
our list. It is called Heart Eyes, and this one
is only a few months old. We kind of hesitate robes.
We don't like to put new movies too high on
the lists because we don't want to be, you know,
(01:49):
caught up in the moment or it's new or it's fresh.
But this one came out February seventh of this year,
around Valentine's Day, which was the exact time it should
have come out. It is called Heart's Our and thirty
seven minutes long rated are It is categorized the genre
being holiday horror, romance, and comedy, the holiday being Valentine's Day.
(02:11):
The horror is definitely there, and the rom com this
was one I wouldn't have understood had I not been
watching with you. There are so many parts of this
movie that I don't get because I'm not familiar enough
with the formula of rom coms. And this is where
they nailed it.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
It was my opportunity to step in where you did
for the Blackening, for me, for rom com for you,
because there are just things you expect when you're watching
a rom com, and they even made There is a
scene in the movie when you watch it, if you've
seen it, where they brilliantly weave in nearly every line
in every famous rom com movie in a scene in.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
The car where I just died laughing.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
And if you haven't watched all the rom coms from
the nineties and up until now, you wouldn't even get
what she was saying.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
But this was the writing was so on like, it
was just perfect.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
You're right. I wouldn't have gotten that moment. Probably a
year or even two years ago, I wouldn't have gotten
the line, but once she did it, and I can't
remember the young lady's name, but she was a supporting
character who was fantastic. You're right that that was probably
the moment of the movie. But you'll you'll see it
if you watch this movie. But the synopsis here we
have two different ones. I think neither one of them
(03:22):
kind of give you too much. But one of them says,
for the past several years, the heart Eye's Killer has
wreaked havoc on Valentine's Day by stalking and murdering romantic
couples this Valentine's Day, no couple is safe. That's accurate,
but it could have gone further.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Yes, the alternate was when two co workers have to
survive the Hard Eyes killer on Valentine's Day.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
The two have to find out who it is.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
You know what, that's very simple, but we're gonna sell
it much better than that. Now, I'll tell you about
the box office here. It did pretty well, thirty million
dollars domestically, another a few million internationally, but totally it
made a only thirty three million dollars. Now. The cast
here includes Olivia Holt and Gordana Brewster, a lot of
people will be familiar with from the Fast and Furious movies.
(04:08):
And another guy we have really fallen for.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Lately, Mason Gooding. And that is Cuba Gooding, Junior's son. Correct,
And when you when you told me that, I actually
didn't know it. I immediately saw the family resemblance.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
He's so adorable, he's perfect.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
In this role.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Charming, Well, yes, so charming.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
You're actually like, it's so funny because I found myself
oscillating between getting excited about the horror movie aspect of it,
but then rooting for them and their love story, which
was so hilariously formulaic, including the meat cute at the
coffee shop.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
See, I didn't know what a meat cute was, so
about eight months ago what that means?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
It?
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Does everybody know what that means? A meat cute and
a rom co? It's only a rom com.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yes, I think every woman listening, I almost said, watching
listening knows what a meat cute is?
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Are there real life meet cute? Does this happen to people?
In real life?
Speaker 3 (04:59):
People will say, what was your meet cute?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
When you meet someone's boyfriend, fiance, husband, what was your
meat cute moment?
Speaker 3 (05:05):
When did you guys have that moment?
Speaker 1 (05:07):
You don't just say how'd you meet?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Well sometimes, but sometimes you might even joke if there's
a story behind how you met, people could refer to
it that way.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
See why I struggle. This is why I struggle with
this movie. Yeah, directed here by Josh Rubin. But the
Rotten Tomato score and the audience score this is as
close as we've seen any of them, seventy seven and
seventy six percent. So the audience and the critics robes
on this one seemed to be in agreement.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
I think that's low.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
If I were to give it, I would have given
this a ninety percent. I just thought it just hit
every mark. It definitely deserved in a in my like
if you the grading system whatever, and I know that
seventy seven is actually really good for a Rotten Tomato score,
but I think it deserves better.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
You haven't looked through these reviews. I pull these, and
I'm cure. I can't remember right now what people's issue
ended up being with the movie, But we're gonna get
into that. Critic consensus here says, quote a exture of
gory slasher and sweet rom com that in geniously nails
both formulas. Hard Eye serves up a bloody Valentine that'll
(06:10):
make the heart skip a beat.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
That's perfect, that's pretty creative, that's pretty perfect.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
We walked out saying that exact thing. It's hard to
get both of these formulas right, and they did it another.
The audience consensus now says, with a mask, excuse me,
with a killer mashup of romance, cheese, horror, and comedy.
This Valentine release may lack a compelling plot, but it's
surely a feast for the heart and eyes love.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
What they did with that too, But momp, I actually
think that's really true because it is cheesy, but it's perfect,
perfectly cheesy, because romance rom coms are cheesy. Yes, they
have cheesy lines. Yes, we know how it's gonna end.
We know there's going to be a false ending. We
know all of these things.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
See, I didn't know that until very recently. And I
still haven't watched a lot of rom coms with you,
but you talk about them quite a bit, so I do.
I guess we should.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
We should watch some more, just you know, for research purposes, Babe.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
What are we researching so you.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Can have a better understanding of the next time a
rom com horror movie comes up?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
And you'll be like, I get it.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
I tell you what, Why don't we do a Valentine's
Day list? Could you imagine how this would go if
I'm sitting here reviewing that. Actually, it'll be a disaster.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
No, I think you'll actually enjoy it because you'll hate
it so much you'll love it.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
But no, it wouldn't come off right, I couldn't.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
I think you could speak for the men out there
who are forced to watch these with.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
We're of course, we do it voluntarily. We don't know
I'm saying. We don't choose. We don't say, hey, sweetie,
let's go see it. But we have no problem. Okay,
you want to watch a rom com, let's do it.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Okay, I say we do a Valentine's Day rom com.
The top ten rom coms.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
I'm gonna struggle with.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
That list, but you get to add to you get
to decide.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
I can't name one. I'll help you. Told me the
other day that Coming to America was a rom com,
and I got pissed at you.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
It is, though it's not.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
It's maybe it's a calm ram, but it's maybe a
more comedy forward, but it's still.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
A rom com. It don't start making up word cam
ram is not a thing. Nobody repeat that. We don't
want it to catch on some of the sample critic
reviews here. Hard Eyes has a winning formula, but maybe
don't expect it to sweep you off your feet. That's fair,
that's fine. However, we were swept another one here is
Hard Eyes is the kind of movie that has something
for everyone except the kids. Don't bring children, get a
(08:25):
jump on Valentine's Day and go see this scream.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Ans I love that scream and screams.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Another here of fun and breezy good time, maniacally twirling
at the crosswords of slasher and rom com. Don't you
always feel vindicated? Yes, when you see that the critics
agree with the exact thing.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
That's exactly how we felt.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
They call this when another one said, it's a fun
movie that's perfect for a couple light humor. References to
rom coms and slashes allow it to explore the cliches
we all know from a self aware perspective. That's a
good way to put it.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
You were in on it.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Yes, they treated audience with intelligence. Yes, like we know
you know, so let's just all enjoy this together.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
That one ended with the line, the murderers are funny.
That sounds ridiculous, But if you watch oh the horror enough,
there are some hilarious Now I have several. Now we
usually don't put this many negative ones in, but I
wanted you to see these ropes. One says maybe the
first ever horror rom com. The only problem with Hard
Eyes was that it couldn't quite deliver on any of
those elements horror, romance, or comedy.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I just so disagree because I think look no offense
to the critic who wrote that, But sometimes maybe you
have to ask yourself.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Am I taking my opinions too seriously?
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Maybe this movie was exactly what it set out to
be and it wasn't for anyone to take it too seriously.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Yes, another here tries its hardest to mix comedy with horror,
but ultimately the comedy overshadows the horror and just becomes
plain ridiculous. I agree that it becomes ridiculous. I embrace that.
I agree that the horror does get overshadowed by the comedy.
I'm okay with that.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
To name this one did not keep me up at night.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I watched Hard Eyes and I slept just fine. If
I was in a hotel room by myself, which is
usually the place where I am most scared when I've
watched a horror movie, would this movie make me concerned? No,
So it's not something set out to scare you.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
It's about an overall enjoyment.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
You know, the idea we talking about how ridiculous. You
have to embrace how ridiculous it is. It's called heart Eyes.
There's literally a killer with a mask on in the
shape of hearts.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Yes, that tells you all you need to know.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
And they light up. Yes, right, okay, so clear, Please
don't come into this too seriously. Another one here says
trying to scare your audience is fundamentally at odds with
repeatedly telling them that nothing they're watching is to be
taken seriously.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I think that's fine, but they're taking issue with it.
That's my point.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
I think they have an issue with not understanding the assignment,
which is that this wasn't a serious like hardcore for
horror fans who only like their horror in a certain way. No,
this is about it being an entertaining movie that mashed
up some genres in a really funny, effective way entertaining.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
This might be the most entertaining on the list. This
is a really really like you have fun this whole movie.
One more here In the end, The Hard Eyes ends
up being another rather generic slasher that didn't do nearly
enough to stand out from the multitudes.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Just like it it stood out so much to me.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I thought this was such a distinctive movie, and I
applaud the creativity. I applaud the singularity of it and
the fact that, yes, of course they borrowed from genres
that we all know and love, but that was the
whole point. It felt the whole point of rom coms,
which we and it's funny. I've learned more about the genre,
explaining why I love it and why it's such a
beloved genre to you who didn't ever really get it,
(11:44):
and that it is like chicken liddle soup.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
It's comfort food. It's comfort food for the soul.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
You know what you're getting. You know what's gonna happen.
You know you're in good hands because it's gonna all end. Okay,
but you put in death and a masked killer, it
makes it funny error Like rom coms are funny anyway.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
But I just felt like this was such a good movie.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
You know what you just said something about rom COM's
the formula. You know it's always gonna end, Okay, you
don't always know that in a horror movie. We were
just watching one of the other I mean, was it
This Morning where the two leads ended up dying in
the end. It doesn't work out. So to actually put
those two things in a mashup was fun. There was
safety almost in watching a horror movie because it was
also a rom com, Like, okay, I know it's going
(12:27):
bad now, but it's gonna work out.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
And even when the people who died died, you kind
of were okay with who died.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I'm sorry that made it also coming.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Please keep that in context. Do not pluck out that
sound by roads that you're okay with these people dying.
One thing I noticed before I let I only put
in one audience critic review. Something I noticed I don't have.
I didn't do full research, but I noticed a difference
in reviews between women and men. Oh wow, it seemed
(12:54):
like so much of the more positive reviews and some
of the stronger language on the negative were coming from
different sexites.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
That makes sense.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
The women seem to get this, and again I don't
have hard evidence, just in general looking at the reviews,
the women had a different take or different appreciation or recognition,
it even seemed, and some of the guys were harsher
than I thought was necessary and didn't seem to get it.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Well, I think think about it. If you want to
go see this just with a bunch of dudes thinking
it was going to be a fun slasher on romantic couples.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Yeah, it probably wouldn't have gotten.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
A lot of the jokes or a lot of the
whole points of the movie, which was to make fun of,
yet honor rom coms.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
So there is the setup to this review. Robes. I've
been waiting to give you this one from an audience member,
and this was a woman quote. If you don't like
this movie, it's probably just not for you. Hard Eyes
was actually great, especially if you have a creative taste.
I'd pay twenty dollars a person to see a sequel.
(13:56):
I've never rated anything on Rotten Tomatoes before, but after
this I downloaded the app happened, made an account just
to review it. This movie shines if you're in a
relationship in relationship, perfect for a date night. If you're single,
you might not enjoy it as much, which could explain
some of the negative reviews for couples. It's a unique,
fun and memorable theater experience.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Oh what, I didn't even think about that if you
were single, maybe MC a lot of times.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Yes, rom coms aren't.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
For people who are ending a relationship or in a
bad place in their lives. You don't want it makes
you feel even worse about your situation than you already did.
So add maybe a murderous villain to it, and you
don't want to see love shine or love win in
the end, it's just annoying to you.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Their result in the wound, salt in the womb they're in.
They're rooting for the killer. Kill them, kill them. But
I thought that was interesting, and I did start to
see that difference in some of the reviews. And again
I get that Robes, there are there are just unmistakable
moments of rom common here, Like take there is a
(15:00):
segment of it when you don't see a killing and
the killer's not being talked about. This is nothing but
a pure rom con.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Yes, the two leads, how they look, how they act,
their ages, the goofiness, the cuteness, it's a complete rom
cong It's awesome, and it's awesome all right. So who
is this for? Who is not four wys on our list?
And as always, now you're looking forward to what Robes
said is the food and drink pairing for this movie?
Stay here we got all that for you.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Continuing our conversation about number eleven on our Halloween Horror
hit list, Heart Eyes the perfect rom com horror movie.
I mean when we even heard about this concept, when
we first saw the trailers, I was already excited because
to put together my two favorite types of movie, which
seems unthinkable because they truly are on opposite ends of
(15:55):
the spectrum, was just like a match made of heaven.
And it could have gone actually one of two ways.
Either it was gonna be really good or it was
gonna be really bad. And thankfully we both thought it
was really good. I was excited that you liked it
as well.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Oh, this movie start to finish was brilliant. I mean
some of this writing is brilliant. To do it. What's
the other one? We had, Blackening on our list as well.
That's probably the other funniest or funniest one on the list.
It wasn't nearly. It didn't nail the horror nearly as
well as this one did.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Yes, this one had some really gruesome, really good killings,
like final Destination style creative killing, so the genre mash up.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
They pulled off both of them.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
That's why it made our list, which I just thought
was a feat in and of itself. And as you
pointed out, TJ, the romcom elements are incredible and for
someone who's new to the genre, I think maybe you
were even more in tune with picking them out.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Yeah, because it was a ridiculous moment where they're ordering
the exact same complicated coffee order or something like that.
Obviously that would never happen. And I'm looking over to that,
this is so stupid. Well I don't think.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
That any that's the point.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
But that's the point. See I got that moment now
instead of looking at that thinking this would never happen,
this is still gret Of course, this is ridiculous. It
was supposed to be.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Yes, it's in fantasy world, and yes, the but we
acting was phenomenal, The writing was phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
That is why it made the list.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Who this is for couples, Yes, absolutely, and I think girlfriends,
girls who like rom comms, who all go together and watch,
you know, Runaway Bride together and love watching all of
those amazing Julia Roberts movies of the nineties. This is
for you as well, as long as you can handle
some gore. Some people cannot. But it is fun to
mix it up a little.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
But you thought it's strong enough in the rom com
elements that it can stand, and you would recommend for
women as.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Because you would get the comedy like you would get
You can acknowledge how silly romcoms are. Actually when you're
watching this movie, it becomes even more evident if you
haven't really dissected some of your favorite rom coms, whether
it be Overboard or Baby Boom like me, but if
it's Pretty Woman, if it's you know, Nodding Hill, whatever.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Or anything else. Julia roberts was in.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
The Holidays, in the Holiday, but she wasn't all the
other ones. Yes, she was of them.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
The ensemble not Holiday. It's like a whole big ensemble,
superstar cast. It's a big.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Holiday holiday one.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Wait, now you maybe forget you should know this.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
I own.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
It's not the holiday that's you sure, No, it's.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
It's not saying anything. That's another one of my favorite one.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
It's the one where the guys outside with the signs do.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
Not say anything. Oh yes, he is the movie boom Box.
But the one you're talking.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
About, that's a different movie. O, what is the one?
So you're telling them that's two different movies, the one
with Julia roberts and the ensemble cast versus the one
with the guy standing from actually.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
So love actually thinking. I don't know if Julia Robertson
is not one.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
The family Stone is another really good horror, not horror
movie rom com.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
No Love actually is Karen Knightley and a Thoms.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Julia Robins is not in love Actually.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Laura Lenny's in it. No, Julia Roberts is one of
the few ones. She's not in one of the few
all the other rom coms.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
You're killing me. Okay, see this is how behind I
am and trying to get.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
Is another good There's so many that one.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
No, Okay, we've gotten off track here.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
But I'm telling you right now, just hearing us run
through all of that, I can tell you that we
absolutely have a rom com episode to come here, come
Valentine's Day.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
All right. We told you who it's for, for you
in love folks out there, possibly possibly for women as well.
This is not for anyone who is looking for a
high brow horror experience. If you need some elevated thing
to make sense. Now, this is some silliness, some foolishness.
The killings are food and why is he using a crossbow?
The opening scene as well, the engagement scene is absolutely hilarious.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
I didn't mention this either. The score is so important
to a rom com music.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Think about like Ladies, all the movies, all the the
like nineties music you like, it's almost all the t
if you did back to a rom com, So they
start with Rascal Flats.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
It's just hilarious.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
The score of this movie is the score of any
rom com. It's deliberate, it's amazing, it's something to appreciate.
But yes, I don't think a lot of dudes might
appreciate this on their own.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Yeah, there is no Okay, so we're this is turning
guys off to it because we're talking about the rom
com elements. This is an entertaining rom com horror movie.
You are not sitting there thinking it's too much of
this or that. So to your point about women watching,
they won't think it's too much horror. If guys are watching,
you won't think it's too much com.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Just take your highbrow horror hat.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Off and you'll be fine and you're gonna enjoy the movie.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
What to pair with?
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Duh?
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Valentine's Day stuff?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
So I would go with a sparkling rose, sparkling rose,
Cremont champagne, just something you know, celebratory like that, and
then chocolates.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
What else do we love on Valentine's Day? Anything sweet?
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Anything, just just something that represents love to you. Put
it on your menu, put it on your coffee table,
and just enjoy experience.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
This one is one you can catch on Nextflix. They're
streaming right now. I think folks can tell in our voices.
I think this is when we desperately wanted to put
in the top ten. And the only reason it's not
is because it came out this year. We just didn't
want to get caught up necessarily in the moment. But
it is a favorite right now of ours, and we
we'll probably watch it again. Just talking about it now,
this is a great movie.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
It makes me want to watch it again, like as
soon as we're done with this, all right, yes, and
you can watch it on Netflix, as you mentioned, so
easy for everyone. Our next episode, our next movie, it'll
be oh wow, we're into the top crack in the
top ten. And actually the name is kind of ironic,
but I won't give away too much other than this
one was not well reviewed.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
In fact, most.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Of the critics disagree with us on our love for
this film and certainly would disagree with our decision to
put it in the top.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Ten, but we are standing by our decision either way.
You will hear us explain exactly why we took issue
with the critics and why this movie is okay to
enjoy and to love. And with that, folks, we always
appreciate you hanging with us. I hope you're enjoying our
fr hit list countdown. We're down to the top tens.
We get ready for Halloween. So no matter what, there's
(22:23):
some doozies in here. People are looking for movies. Pick
one from this list. Just start with this list. You're
gonna find one you love.
Hey that folks. It is Tuesday, October the twenteenth first,
and the next movie on our horror hit list. It
could also be on our Valentine's Day movie countdown and
with that, Welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ.
We continue to count down our horror hit list, our
favorite horror movies that maybe you haven't heard of as
we get closer and closer to Valentine's Day. Is this
(00:31):
We talked about The Blackening. It's earlier on the list,
but this movie has to be the funnest one on
the list.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
I loved this movie so much.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Also, I went into it with really.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
High expectations because I thought, finally someone has made the
perfect date horror movie where you mix a rom com
with a horror movie, and I just didn't believe it
could be done well in both genres, and yet they
nailed it.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Like It's an.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Absolute hilarious, fun, over the top rom com satirical, almost
indefinitely satirical, and it's making fun of rom coms yet
perfectly formulaic in the rom com family, and then also
having amazing kills and horror and just a through line
of a rampaging, murderous villain who's going after lovebirds on
(01:26):
Valentine's Day?
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Folks, this is for us at least. This is the
perfect date movie. And we're talking about number eleven on
our list. It is called Heart Eyes, and this one
is only a few months old. We kind of hesitate robes.
We don't like to put new movies too high on
the lists because we don't want to be, you know,
(01:49):
caught up in the moment or it's new or it's fresh.
But this one came out February seventh of this year,
around Valentine's Day, which was the exact time it should
have come out. It is called Heart's Our and thirty
seven minutes long rated are It is categorized the genre
being holiday horror, romance, and comedy, the holiday being Valentine's Day.
(02:11):
The horror is definitely there, and the rom com this
was one I wouldn't have understood had I not been
watching with you. There are so many parts of this
movie that I don't get because I'm not familiar enough
with the formula of rom coms. And this is where
they nailed it.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
It was my opportunity to step in where you did
for the Blackening, for me, for rom com for you,
because there are just things you expect when you're watching
a rom com, and they even made There is a
scene in the movie when you watch it, if you've
seen it, where they brilliantly weave in nearly every line
in every famous rom com movie in a scene in.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
The car where I just died laughing.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
And if you haven't watched all the rom coms from
the nineties and up until now, you wouldn't even get
what she was saying.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
But this was the writing was so on like, it
was just perfect.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
You're right. I wouldn't have gotten that moment. Probably a
year or even two years ago, I wouldn't have gotten
the line, but once she did it, and I can't
remember the young lady's name, but she was a supporting
character who was fantastic. You're right that that was probably
the moment of the movie. But you'll you'll see it
if you watch this movie. But the synopsis here we
have two different ones. I think neither one of them
(03:22):
kind of give you too much. But one of them says,
for the past several years, the heart Eye's Killer has
wreaked havoc on Valentine's Day by stalking and murdering romantic
couples this Valentine's Day, no couple is safe. That's accurate,
but it could have gone further.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Yes, the alternate was when two co workers have to
survive the Hard Eyes killer on Valentine's Day.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
The two have to find out who it is.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
You know what, that's very simple, but we're gonna sell
it much better than that. Now, I'll tell you about
the box office here. It did pretty well, thirty million
dollars domestically, another a few million internationally, but totally it
made a only thirty three million dollars. Now. The cast
here includes Olivia Holt and Gordana Brewster, a lot of
people will be familiar with from the Fast and Furious movies.
(04:08):
And another guy we have really fallen for.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Lately, Mason Gooding. And that is Cuba Gooding, Junior's son. Correct,
And when you when you told me that, I actually
didn't know it. I immediately saw the family resemblance.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
He's so adorable, he's perfect.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
In this role.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Charming, Well, yes, so charming.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
You're actually like, it's so funny because I found myself
oscillating between getting excited about the horror movie aspect of it,
but then rooting for them and their love story, which
was so hilariously formulaic, including the meat cute at the
coffee shop.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
See, I didn't know what a meat cute was, so
about eight months ago what that means?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
It?
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Does everybody know what that means? A meat cute and
a rom co? It's only a rom com.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yes, I think every woman listening, I almost said, watching
listening knows what a meat cute is?
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Are there real life meet cute? Does this happen to people?
In real life?
Speaker 3 (04:59):
People will say, what was your meet cute?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
When you meet someone's boyfriend, fiance, husband, what was your
meat cute moment?
Speaker 3 (05:05):
When did you guys have that moment?
Speaker 1 (05:07):
You don't just say how'd you meet?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Well sometimes, but sometimes you might even joke if there's
a story behind how you met, people could refer to
it that way.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
See why I struggle. This is why I struggle with
this movie. Yeah, directed here by Josh Rubin. But the
Rotten Tomato score and the audience score this is as
close as we've seen any of them, seventy seven and
seventy six percent. So the audience and the critics robes
on this one seemed to be in agreement.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
I think that's low.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
If I were to give it, I would have given
this a ninety percent. I just thought it just hit
every mark. It definitely deserved in a in my like
if you the grading system whatever, and I know that
seventy seven is actually really good for a Rotten Tomato score,
but I think it deserves better.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
You haven't looked through these reviews. I pull these, and
I'm cure. I can't remember right now what people's issue
ended up being with the movie, But we're gonna get
into that. Critic consensus here says, quote a exture of
gory slasher and sweet rom com that in geniously nails
both formulas. Hard Eye serves up a bloody Valentine that'll
(06:10):
make the heart skip a beat.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
That's perfect, that's pretty creative, that's pretty perfect.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
We walked out saying that exact thing. It's hard to
get both of these formulas right, and they did it another.
The audience consensus now says, with a mask, excuse me,
with a killer mashup of romance, cheese, horror, and comedy.
This Valentine release may lack a compelling plot, but it's
surely a feast for the heart and eyes love.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
What they did with that too, But momp, I actually
think that's really true because it is cheesy, but it's perfect,
perfectly cheesy, because romance rom coms are cheesy. Yes, they
have cheesy lines. Yes, we know how it's gonna end.
We know there's going to be a false ending. We
know all of these things.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
See, I didn't know that until very recently. And I
still haven't watched a lot of rom coms with you,
but you talk about them quite a bit, so I do.
I guess we should.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
We should watch some more, just you know, for research purposes, Babe.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
What are we researching so you.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Can have a better understanding of the next time a
rom com horror movie comes up?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
And you'll be like, I get it.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
I tell you what, Why don't we do a Valentine's
Day list? Could you imagine how this would go if
I'm sitting here reviewing that. Actually, it'll be a disaster.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
No, I think you'll actually enjoy it because you'll hate
it so much you'll love it.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
But no, it wouldn't come off right, I couldn't.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
I think you could speak for the men out there
who are forced to watch these with.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
We're of course, we do it voluntarily. We don't know
I'm saying. We don't choose. We don't say, hey, sweetie,
let's go see it. But we have no problem. Okay,
you want to watch a rom com, let's do it.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Okay, I say we do a Valentine's Day rom com.
The top ten rom coms.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
I'm gonna struggle with.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
That list, but you get to add to you get
to decide.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
I can't name one. I'll help you. Told me the
other day that Coming to America was a rom com,
and I got pissed at you.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
It is, though it's not.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
It's maybe it's a calm ram, but it's maybe a
more comedy forward, but it's still.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
A rom com. It don't start making up word cam
ram is not a thing. Nobody repeat that. We don't
want it to catch on some of the sample critic
reviews here. Hard Eyes has a winning formula, but maybe
don't expect it to sweep you off your feet. That's fair,
that's fine. However, we were swept another one here is
Hard Eyes is the kind of movie that has something
for everyone except the kids. Don't bring children, get a
(08:25):
jump on Valentine's Day and go see this scream.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Ans I love that scream and screams.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Another here of fun and breezy good time, maniacally twirling
at the crosswords of slasher and rom com. Don't you
always feel vindicated? Yes, when you see that the critics
agree with the exact thing.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
That's exactly how we felt.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
They call this when another one said, it's a fun
movie that's perfect for a couple light humor. References to
rom coms and slashes allow it to explore the cliches
we all know from a self aware perspective. That's a
good way to put it.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
You were in on it.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Yes, they treated audience with intelligence. Yes, like we know
you know, so let's just all enjoy this together.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
That one ended with the line, the murderers are funny.
That sounds ridiculous, But if you watch oh the horror enough,
there are some hilarious Now I have several. Now we
usually don't put this many negative ones in, but I
wanted you to see these ropes. One says maybe the
first ever horror rom com. The only problem with Hard
Eyes was that it couldn't quite deliver on any of
those elements horror, romance, or comedy.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I just so disagree because I think look no offense
to the critic who wrote that, But sometimes maybe you
have to ask yourself.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Am I taking my opinions too seriously?
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Maybe this movie was exactly what it set out to
be and it wasn't for anyone to take it too seriously.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Yes, another here tries its hardest to mix comedy with horror,
but ultimately the comedy overshadows the horror and just becomes
plain ridiculous. I agree that it becomes ridiculous. I embrace that.
I agree that the horror does get overshadowed by the comedy.
I'm okay with that.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
To name this one did not keep me up at night.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I watched Hard Eyes and I slept just fine. If
I was in a hotel room by myself, which is
usually the place where I am most scared when I've
watched a horror movie, would this movie make me concerned? No,
So it's not something set out to scare you.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
It's about an overall enjoyment.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
You know, the idea we talking about how ridiculous. You
have to embrace how ridiculous it is. It's called heart Eyes.
There's literally a killer with a mask on in the
shape of hearts.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Yes, that tells you all you need to know.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
And they light up. Yes, right, okay, so clear, Please
don't come into this too seriously. Another one here says
trying to scare your audience is fundamentally at odds with
repeatedly telling them that nothing they're watching is to be
taken seriously.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I think that's fine, but they're taking issue with it.
That's my point.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
I think they have an issue with not understanding the assignment,
which is that this wasn't a serious like hardcore for
horror fans who only like their horror in a certain way. No,
this is about it being an entertaining movie that mashed
up some genres in a really funny, effective way entertaining.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
This might be the most entertaining on the list. This
is a really really like you have fun this whole movie.
One more here In the end, The Hard Eyes ends
up being another rather generic slasher that didn't do nearly
enough to stand out from the multitudes.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Just like it it stood out so much to me.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I thought this was such a distinctive movie, and I
applaud the creativity. I applaud the singularity of it and
the fact that, yes, of course they borrowed from genres
that we all know and love, but that was the
whole point. It felt the whole point of rom coms,
which we and it's funny. I've learned more about the genre,
explaining why I love it and why it's such a
beloved genre to you who didn't ever really get it,
(11:44):
and that it is like chicken liddle soup.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
It's comfort food. It's comfort food for the soul.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
You know what you're getting. You know what's gonna happen.
You know you're in good hands because it's gonna all end. Okay,
but you put in death and a masked killer, it
makes it funny error Like rom coms are funny anyway.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
But I just felt like this was such a good movie.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
You know what you just said something about rom COM's
the formula. You know it's always gonna end, Okay, you
don't always know that in a horror movie. We were
just watching one of the other I mean, was it
This Morning where the two leads ended up dying in
the end. It doesn't work out. So to actually put
those two things in a mashup was fun. There was
safety almost in watching a horror movie because it was
also a rom com, Like, okay, I know it's going
(12:27):
bad now, but it's gonna work out.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
And even when the people who died died, you kind
of were okay with who died.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I'm sorry that made it also coming.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Please keep that in context. Do not pluck out that
sound by roads that you're okay with these people dying.
One thing I noticed before I let I only put
in one audience critic review. Something I noticed I don't have.
I didn't do full research, but I noticed a difference
in reviews between women and men. Oh wow, it seemed
(12:54):
like so much of the more positive reviews and some
of the stronger language on the negative were coming from
different sexites.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
That makes sense.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
The women seem to get this, and again I don't
have hard evidence, just in general looking at the reviews,
the women had a different take or different appreciation or recognition,
it even seemed, and some of the guys were harsher
than I thought was necessary and didn't seem to get it.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Well, I think think about it. If you want to
go see this just with a bunch of dudes thinking
it was going to be a fun slasher on romantic couples.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Yeah, it probably wouldn't have gotten.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
A lot of the jokes or a lot of the
whole points of the movie, which was to make fun of,
yet honor rom coms.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
So there is the setup to this review. Robes. I've
been waiting to give you this one from an audience member,
and this was a woman quote. If you don't like
this movie, it's probably just not for you. Hard Eyes
was actually great, especially if you have a creative taste.
I'd pay twenty dollars a person to see a sequel.
(13:56):
I've never rated anything on Rotten Tomatoes before, but after
this I downloaded the app happened, made an account just
to review it. This movie shines if you're in a
relationship in relationship, perfect for a date night. If you're single,
you might not enjoy it as much, which could explain
some of the negative reviews for couples. It's a unique,
fun and memorable theater experience.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Oh what, I didn't even think about that if you
were single, maybe MC a lot of times.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Yes, rom coms aren't.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
For people who are ending a relationship or in a
bad place in their lives. You don't want it makes
you feel even worse about your situation than you already did.
So add maybe a murderous villain to it, and you
don't want to see love shine or love win in
the end, it's just annoying to you.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Their result in the wound, salt in the womb they're in.
They're rooting for the killer. Kill them, kill them. But
I thought that was interesting, and I did start to
see that difference in some of the reviews. And again
I get that Robes, there are there are just unmistakable
moments of rom common here, Like take there is a
(15:00):
segment of it when you don't see a killing and
the killer's not being talked about. This is nothing but
a pure rom con.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Yes, the two leads, how they look, how they act,
their ages, the goofiness, the cuteness, it's a complete rom
cong It's awesome, and it's awesome all right. So who
is this for? Who is not four wys on our list?
And as always, now you're looking forward to what Robes
said is the food and drink pairing for this movie?
Stay here we got all that for you.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Continuing our conversation about number eleven on our Halloween Horror
hit list, Heart Eyes the perfect rom com horror movie.
I mean when we even heard about this concept, when
we first saw the trailers, I was already excited because
to put together my two favorite types of movie, which
seems unthinkable because they truly are on opposite ends of
(15:55):
the spectrum, was just like a match made of heaven.
And it could have gone actually one of two ways.
Either it was gonna be really good or it was
gonna be really bad. And thankfully we both thought it
was really good. I was excited that you liked it
as well.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Oh, this movie start to finish was brilliant. I mean
some of this writing is brilliant. To do it. What's
the other one? We had, Blackening on our list as well.
That's probably the other funniest or funniest one on the list.
It wasn't nearly. It didn't nail the horror nearly as
well as this one did.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Yes, this one had some really gruesome, really good killings,
like final Destination style creative killing, so the genre mash up.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
They pulled off both of them.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
That's why it made our list, which I just thought
was a feat in and of itself. And as you
pointed out, TJ, the romcom elements are incredible and for
someone who's new to the genre, I think maybe you
were even more in tune with picking them out.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Yeah, because it was a ridiculous moment where they're ordering
the exact same complicated coffee order or something like that.
Obviously that would never happen. And I'm looking over to that,
this is so stupid. Well I don't think.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
That any that's the point.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
But that's the point. See I got that moment now
instead of looking at that thinking this would never happen,
this is still gret Of course, this is ridiculous. It
was supposed to be.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Yes, it's in fantasy world, and yes, the but we
acting was phenomenal, The writing was phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
That is why it made the list.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Who this is for couples, Yes, absolutely, and I think girlfriends,
girls who like rom comms, who all go together and watch,
you know, Runaway Bride together and love watching all of
those amazing Julia Roberts movies of the nineties. This is
for you as well, as long as you can handle
some gore. Some people cannot. But it is fun to
mix it up a little.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
But you thought it's strong enough in the rom com
elements that it can stand, and you would recommend for
women as.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Because you would get the comedy like you would get
You can acknowledge how silly romcoms are. Actually when you're
watching this movie, it becomes even more evident if you
haven't really dissected some of your favorite rom coms, whether
it be Overboard or Baby Boom like me, but if
it's Pretty Woman, if it's you know, Nodding Hill, whatever.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Or anything else. Julia roberts was in.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
The Holidays, in the Holiday, but she wasn't all the
other ones. Yes, she was of them.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
The ensemble not Holiday. It's like a whole big ensemble,
superstar cast. It's a big.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Holiday holiday one.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Wait, now you maybe forget you should know this.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
I own.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
It's not the holiday that's you sure, No, it's.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
It's not saying anything. That's another one of my favorite one.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
It's the one where the guys outside with the signs do.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
Not say anything. Oh yes, he is the movie boom Box.
But the one you're talking.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
About, that's a different movie. O, what is the one?
So you're telling them that's two different movies, the one
with Julia roberts and the ensemble cast versus the one
with the guy standing from actually.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
So love actually thinking. I don't know if Julia Robertson
is not one.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
The family Stone is another really good horror, not horror
movie rom com.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
No Love actually is Karen Knightley and a Thoms.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Julia Robins is not in love Actually.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Laura Lenny's in it. No, Julia Roberts is one of
the few ones. She's not in one of the few
all the other rom coms.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
You're killing me. Okay, see this is how behind I
am and trying to get.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
Is another good There's so many that one.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
No, Okay, we've gotten off track here.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
But I'm telling you right now, just hearing us run
through all of that, I can tell you that we
absolutely have a rom com episode to come here, come
Valentine's Day.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
All right. We told you who it's for, for you
in love folks out there, possibly possibly for women as well.
This is not for anyone who is looking for a
high brow horror experience. If you need some elevated thing
to make sense. Now, this is some silliness, some foolishness.
The killings are food and why is he using a crossbow?
The opening scene as well, the engagement scene is absolutely hilarious.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
I didn't mention this either. The score is so important
to a rom com music.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Think about like Ladies, all the movies, all the the
like nineties music you like, it's almost all the t
if you did back to a rom com, So they
start with Rascal Flats.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
It's just hilarious.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
The score of this movie is the score of any
rom com. It's deliberate, it's amazing, it's something to appreciate.
But yes, I don't think a lot of dudes might
appreciate this on their own.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Yeah, there is no Okay, so we're this is turning
guys off to it because we're talking about the rom
com elements. This is an entertaining rom com horror movie.
You are not sitting there thinking it's too much of
this or that. So to your point about women watching,
they won't think it's too much horror. If guys are watching,
you won't think it's too much com.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Just take your highbrow horror hat.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Off and you'll be fine and you're gonna enjoy the movie.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
What to pair with?
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Duh?
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Valentine's Day stuff?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
So I would go with a sparkling rose, sparkling rose,
Cremont champagne, just something you know, celebratory like that, and
then chocolates.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
What else do we love on Valentine's Day? Anything sweet?
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Anything, just just something that represents love to you. Put
it on your menu, put it on your coffee table,
and just enjoy experience.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
This one is one you can catch on Nextflix. They're
streaming right now. I think folks can tell in our voices.
I think this is when we desperately wanted to put
in the top ten. And the only reason it's not
is because it came out this year. We just didn't
want to get caught up necessarily in the moment. But
it is a favorite right now of ours, and we
we'll probably watch it again. Just talking about it now,
this is a great movie.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
It makes me want to watch it again, like as
soon as we're done with this, all right, yes, and
you can watch it on Netflix, as you mentioned, so
easy for everyone. Our next episode, our next movie, it'll
be oh wow, we're into the top crack in the
top ten. And actually the name is kind of ironic,
but I won't give away too much other than this
one was not well reviewed.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
In fact, most.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Of the critics disagree with us on our love for
this film and certainly would disagree with our decision to
put it in the top.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Ten, but we are standing by our decision either way.
You will hear us explain exactly why we took issue
with the critics and why this movie is okay to
enjoy and to love. And with that, folks, we always
appreciate you hanging with us. I hope you're enjoying our
fr hit list countdown. We're down to the top tens.
We get ready for Halloween. So no matter what, there's
(22:23):
some doozies in here. People are looking for movies. Pick
one from this list. Just start with this list. You're
gonna find one you love.
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CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.