Scream franchise star Mason Gooding compares how the killer in his new movie, Heart Eyes, compares to Ghostface. Gooding has now played Chad Meeks-Martin in two Scream movies, and he’s set to reprise the role once more for the upcoming Scream 7. Before his next fight against Ghostface, though, he’s set to play a lead in Heart Eyes, a horror movie from director Josh Ruben about a Valentine’s Day murderer dubbed the Heart Eyes Killer, who targets romantic couples.
In a recent interview with ScreenRant ahead of Heart Eyes‘ release, Gooding explains that there are some key differences between Ghostface in Scream and the Heart Eyes Killer. With Ghostface, he explains, a major part of the appeal (and terror) of the character is that it usually ends up being someone the victims know personally. With the Heart Eyes Killer, though, it’s less about their idenтιтy and more about how brutal they are with a “medieval” arsenal of weapons. Check out Gooding’s full comment below, as well as his tip on how to survive a slasher movie villain:
It’s funny because HEK has such a brutality to [them] that seems as if it’s hard to track the motive or the understanding of why these things take place, which allows for a level of horror that I think is alternative to Scream’s meticulous, methodical, more domesticated style of horror. HEK’s arsenal is also pretty f–king medieval with a crossbow. Trauma flashbacks.
But with Ghostface, I think the allure of that character is that it could be anybody, specifically people in your neighborhood and the people that you grew up with. That’s what drives that terror. With HEK, regardless of who it is, the threat is so imminent and insurmountable that it feels like, if Heart Eyes were written under any other circumstances and followed one person? That person’s getting folded like a f–king lawn chair.
But my trick for surviving them apparently is just a lot of sit-ups because Chad’s been stabbed [so many] times in the stomach and walked away that it’s got to be something from a physical fitness standpoint. Maybe he’s just an immortal deity, I don’t know. It could be that.
What Gooding’s Comparison Means For Heart Eyes
Can The Heart Eyes Killer Stand Out From The Crowd?
Scream got its start back in 1996, and there have since been five sequels. Reviews for Scream 6 in 2023 were positive and the film was a financial hit, speaking to the enduring appeal of the franchise’s format and of the Ghostface killer, even almost 30 years later. Ghostface’s unique design, voice, and tactics have helped the Scream franchise succeed, in addition to the mystery surrounding who might be under the mask in each new movie.
Heart Eyes marks the debut movie for the тιтular killer, and he joins a crowded landscape of slasher movies villains, including Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Leatherface, and now, Terrifier‘s Art the Clown. If Heart Eyes is to start a successful franchise, which is surely the goal, the Heart Eyes Killer will have to offer up something new to audiences. Purely from a visual design standpoint, this killer already looks unique with his mask and light-up heart goggles, but how he hunts and kills his victims will be just as important.
Our Take On The Heart Eyes Killer Vs. Ghostface
The Heart Eyes Killer Could Be Even More Brutal
Ghostface is now one of the most iconic slasher movie villains of all time, and the character is generally always scary and ruthless. Ghostface is also, however, a little clumsy, often falling over and banging into things as he chases victims, which only makes him more scary since he feels like a real person in a costume instead of a fantastical villain. He’s also quite theatrical, in terms of the phone calls he makes. The Scream franchise is often winking at audiences, and there’s a dark sense of humor to Ghostface.
Ghostface’s return in Scream 7 is currently scheduled for February 27, 2026.
It’s not totally clear if Heart Eyes will have this same sense of humor, but leaning into a unique arsenal of weapons and a visceral sense of brutality could be an interesting way to differentiate this movie’s killer from Ghostface. In any case, Heart Eyes is looking like an interesting addition to the slasher movie genre, and the Heart Eyes Killer could prove challenging for Gooding’s character to survive.
