14-02-2025
Former Watertown resident co-wrote slasher film playing locally
Feb. 14—WATERTOWN — A film playing at Regal Salmon Run Mall theater was co-written by a former Watertown resident. It has a general theme of Valentine's Day, but it's definitely not for those faint of heart toward horror films.
"Heart Eyes" is described by the review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes as "A mixture of gory slasher and sweet rom-com that ingeniously nails both formulas ... it "serves up a bloody valentine that will make the heart skip a beat."
The film was written by Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon (who also produces) and Michael Kennedy. Murphy lived in Watertown from 1990 to 1999. He is the son of Robert and Mary Murphy, who moved overseas from Watertown in 1999 and later moved back to New York state.
The Murphys moved to Watertown in 1990 from Syracuse, residing on Flower Avenue West. Phillip and his brother, Brandon, graduated from St. Patrick's School in Watertown and attended Immaculate Heart Central School. Phillip graduated from Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia, where he studied history.
"Heart Eyes" is rated R. Its official plot summary: "For the past several years, the 'Heart Eyes Killer' has wreaked havoc on Valentine's Day by stalking and murdering romantic couples. This Valentine's Day, no couple is safe."
Phillip and Brandon were the screen writers of the 2021 film "Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard," which was the number one movie in U.S. box office charts in mid-June of that year.
According to Regal's website, "Heart Eyes" is playing at the Salmon Run Mall theater through Thursday.
