This Valentine’s Day, Celebrate Your Love With These Slasher Films
Don't you dare put on a rom com when these slasher films are begging to be watched!
On Valentine’s Day, couples love to watch films together – whether it be at home or the theater.
Don’t let the ads and media propaganda fool you, though – nobody is watching rom coms on this special day. Not a chance. You know what everyone is watching? A good ol’ slasher, because nothing says, “I love you,” quite like a movie where a killer hunts down their victims.
So, in honor of a timely tradition that no one talks about, let’s look at the best slasher films to enjoy this Valentine’s Day as love is in the air and the knife is thrashing all around.
Heart Eyes (2025)
The newest film on here is Heart Eyes from director Josh Ruben of Scare Me and Werewolves Within fame. The gimmick around this 2025 slasher is that the infamous Heart Eyes Killer strikes on Valentine’s Day with only one intention: To murder couples enjoying the occasion. What a love-grinch! One fateful Valentine’s Day, the killer targets two co-workers putting in overtime, presuming them to be a couple. See, the moral of this story is clear: That working too hard and putting in overtime will kill you, so relax and take it easy! Heart Eyes might lack the pizazz and style to become a long-lasting slasher franchise like Scream or Halloween, but it’s oodles of fun that’s meant to be enjoyed with popcorn and a partner who understands that horror can be both scary and fun at the same time.
Prom Night (2008)
Prom is meant to be a big deal for teenagers. It’s an event to celebrate with friends and perhaps a crush/romantic partner. In short, it’s supposed to be about good vibes. In 2008’s Prom Night – a remake of the 1980 film – Donna Keppel (Brittany Snow) experiences none of this. Years earlier, she witnessed her biology teacher Richard Fenton (Johnathon Schaech) murder her family after he grew infatuated with Donna. Now, as Donna prepares to go to prom, Fenton escapes from the institution he was locked up in. The police know Fenton will head straight for Donna, so they use her as bait – and everyone knows how useful the authorities are in slashers, so their plan makes matters worse. Prom Night lacks brains and substance, but it’s a nonstop thrill to wonder which corner Schaech’s Fenton is hiding behind.
The Strangers (2008)
As a couple, there’s nothing better than getting away for some quality R&R together. After watching 2008’s The Strangers, though, people might think twice about their Valentine’s Day vacation. The slasher sees James Hoyt (Scott Speedman) and Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler) head off to James’ summer home after attending a wedding. There’s already trouble brewing between them after Kristen turned down James’ marriage proposal. However, hurt feelings aren’t all they need to contend with here, as masked intruders begin to toy with them and make their way into the home. What’s particularly unsettling about The Strangers is the motivation of the antagonists. When Kristen cries out for a reason from the attackers, one of them says, “Because you were home.” Yeah, never answer the doorbell again!
Valentine (2001)
There’s something about early 2000s horror films that hits differently. It’s a case that no matter how bad the movie is, it feels like everyone had the time of their life making it, and it’s infectious for the audience. The same can be said about 2001’s Valentine, which is about as original as two slices of toast. Yet, with a cast featuring the likes of Denise Richards, David Boreanaz, Jessica Capshaw, and Katherine Heigl, it’s here for a good time – not a long time. Valentine keeps everyone guessing about the identity of the killer, who wears a Cupid mask, until the end. Also, like the title implies, the film’s centered around Valentine’s Day, as the killer hunts down a group of women for, well, reasons – no spoilers, promise!
Cupid (2020)
Cupid makes an appearance on this list again, but it isn’t a man in a mask situation. No, in 2020’s Cupid, Cupid is essentially an evil and mythical monster, who rises up to attack a group of high school girls after another girl – and practicing witch – named Faye (Georgina Jane) has enough of their bullying and summons him for backup. Let’s cut to the chase: Cupid is cheap shlock and has hardly any redeemable qualities to speak of. That said, it’s the absolutely perfect film to put on the background as people Netflix and chill (though it is on Prime Video, but you get the picture) on Valentine’s Day. Put your brain on rest mode for 90 minutes and let Cupid demonstrate how any idea in the world can be turned into a slasher film if you try hard enough.
