Valentine’s Day totally slays.
At least, if you’re in love it does. For many singles, enduring the hyper-commercialized holiday can feel as torturous as getting slain.
And in today’s film landscape, that’s exactly what happens.
Welcome to the 2025 Valentine’s film scene, where swoony, heartfelt romances are out, and R-rated bloodbaths are in. I’m looking at you, “Companion” and “Heart Eyes.”
These recently released films take a stab at blending horror and romance, each exploring the darker, more terrifying side of love in its own way.
“Companion,” released Jan. 31, kicked off the month of love with a compelling, though less-than-romantic, start.
The movie stars Sophie Thatcher (“Heretic”) and Jack Quaid (“The Boys”) as Iris and Josh, a seemingly quaint couple on a weekend getaway. However, it soon becomes clear that their relationship is more sinister than it appears, with Josh exerting a level of control over Iris that no one could have imagined. Unless, of course, you’ve already seen the trailers and marketing materials.
Best to avoid those.
As “Companion” unfolds, Iris and Josh’s dynamic spirals from toxic to downright diabolical, taking audiences on a wild ride packed with unexpected twists and turns. The result? A well-written commentary on controlling relationships, deceptively wrapped in pink and red packaging.
It’s never been more clear that the color of love is also the color of blood.
Real love may take a backseat in “Companion,” but in “Heart Eyes,” Cupid grabs the wheel, slams on the gas and drives straight to hell.
Released Feb. 7, “Heart Eyes” is a fun story carried by the chemistry between Olivia Holt (“Cruel Summer”) and Mason Gooding (“Scream”) as Ally and Jay, respectively. Despite these captivating performances, the movie just can’t decide what it wants to be.
In many ways, it’s a rom-com, complete with a coffee shop meet-cute, workplace drama and witty banter between Ally and Jay. At the same time, it’s a full-fledged slasher, as our inevitable lovebirds become the latest targets of the Heart Eyes Killer, a masked murderer who hunts down couples on Valentine’s Day. The only things sharper than their one-liners are the heart-adorned weapons flying around throughout the film.
In its attempt to mash two genres, “Heart Eyes” ends up at war with itself. Bumpy pacing and an absurd villain backstory sink the film’s potential like a doomed romance, but it at least makes for an entertaining ride as it goes under.
“Companion” and “Heart Eyes” are just the latest entries into the romantic horror genre. Apparently, love and terror are natural counterparts. Maybe it’s the whole “til death do us part” thing, or maybe it has to do with the dark origins of Valentine’s Day itself.
The holiday likely takes its name from two men named Valentine, both executed on Feb. 14 in the third century and later martyred by the Catholic Church. If that’s not dark enough, Valentine’s Day also has roots in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, historically celebrated from Feb. 13 to 15, where men sacrificed animals and whipped women with their hides, believing it would boost fertility. The brutal event also featured a matchmaking lottery, pairing young men and women together for the festival’s duration.
But hey, Feb. 14, is a total love-fest; the epitome of romance. Not to mention every marketing team’s dream.
Who said love is dead?
Maybe those two guys named Valentine. Or the women dodging sacrificial animal hides at Lupercalia. Or those of us left sitting alone at the movie theater.
This Valentine’s Day, love may be more alive than ever. But watch out, sometimes, this holiday doesn’t make your heart skip a beat.
Sometimes, it tears it right out of your chest.
