The тιтular antagonist of Heart Eyes could become as iconic as Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Leatherface, according to the movie’s stars Devon Sawa, Gigi Zumbado, and Jordana Brewster. The romantic-comedy slasher from Werewolves Within director Josh Ruben, is set to release February 7, and the Heart Eyes trailer shows the plot following two co-workers working on Valentine’s Day, being mistaken for a couple, and targeted by the Heart Eyes Killer. Heart Eyes features a strong cast, also including Olivia Holt, Michaela Watkins, and Mason Gooding, and will be looking to make its mark at the box office over Valentine’s weekend.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant‘s Joe Deckelmeier, the trio opens up on their views on the movie’s тιтular killer, and whether they will go down in the pantheon of slasher killer legends. Sawa discusses the character’s original look, a key component of any iconic killer, Brewster talks about the creepiness of the mask, with Zumbado seemingly agreeing with her. All three agree that the Heart Eyes Killer certainly has the components to become a slasher icon. Check out their comments below:
Screen Rant: Devon, you are no stranger to the horror genre, with Final Destination and Chucky. What do you think makes the Heart Eyes killer a potential new icon in the slasher genre?
Sawa: He’s original. He has an original look; his way of killing is original. It’s a vibrant feel. You’ve got to have that It factor as a killer and as a slasher, and he’s got that. He or she has that It factor; that kind of Leatherface, that Krueger, that Jason feeling.
Brewster: His silhouette is so creepy because it’s alien-like, and then with the sтιтches in the back and the veins? I was really put off by the mask, as the audience should be.
Zumbado: It’s incredibly well-made. If you actually hold it and look at it, and the lighting that happens with the eyes and everything; the night vision? It’s an incredibly well-developed mask.
What These Comments Mean For Heart Eyes
Sawa’s Remarks Should Have Slasher Fans Excited
The endorsement of Sawa is definitely a big boon for the movie and the character. With starring roles in Idle Hands and Final Destination, as well as multiple roles in the Chucky TV show, he is a genre icon, so his endorsement should rightly build anticipation for Heart Eyes. Brewster herself is no stranger to the genre, having appeared in The Faculty and Texas Chainsaw Mᴀssacre: The Beginning, so to hear her comparing Heart Eyes with Leatherface should be cause for optimism. Zumbado, meanwhile, appeared in horror-comedy Tone-Deaf, and an episode of the Scream TV show.
The runaway success of Terrifier 3 shows that modern audiences have an appeтιтe for viscerally violent horror icons, and are open to adopting new killers into the pop culture pantheon.
The slasher genre is a unique one, and many elements can make a character a legend of the genre, but the main one is an iconic look, unique kills, and an enduring legacy. Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface are instantly recognizable, not just to horror buffs, but to the general public at large, and have cemented their place as pop culture icons. The Heart Eyes Killer has not done that yet, but based on the comments, the killer’s unique look, kills, and unsettling mask could be pivotal in cementing cult status.
Our Verdict On The Heart Eyes Killer’s Chances Of Genre Immortality
It Takes A Legacy, But Modern Audiences Seem Keen For New Slasher Icons
Becoming a legendary slasher character is never an easy feat, and there is no question that Heart Eyes will need multiple installments to get to that stage. But there is cause for optimism. The runaway success of Terrifier 3 shows that modern audiences have an appeтιтe for viscerally violent horror icons, and are open to adopting new killers into the pop culture pantheon. Heart Eyes could be positioning itself to provide the next great slasher icon, and the reaction of its stars is reason to be optimistic.
