When a pest exterminator (Craig Morgan) arrives at a property, he begins conducting various checks but stops when he is informed that he has come on the wrong day. While frustrated about his scheduling mistake, he suddenly hears loud noises that get his attention. Unfortunately, the exterminator is soon captured and brutally tortured by a mysterious man wearing a Mickey Mouse-like mask. As the film’s credits roll, we see various newspaper clippings about the infamous “Mouse Boy,” a tragic fire, and other rumours and sightings.
Daniel (Sergio Rogalto), Nico (Micho Camacho), Nora (Maya Luna), and Jess (Daniela Porras) are an adventurous group of friends who often seek out ghosts to conjure or explore homes rumoured to be haunted. Their latest destination is a place most people would fear to visit, especially given its history of reported ghost sightings. Determined to uncover something incredible for their YouTube channel—or to share with the world—they head to this ominous location. However, upon their arrival, they find themselves hunted by a psychopathic man with a dark backstory that intertwines with unsettling secrets related to Mickey Mouse and the infamous animated feature Steamboat Willie. Will the group manage to survive Willie’s horrific methods of torture and slaughter?
I Heart Willie is a horror film with a mystery aspect, particularly concerning the film’s villain. This film reimagines the concept of the iconic animated short film Steamboat Willie, which was released in 1929. Interestingly, this is not the first horror film to incorporate a Mickey Mouse-like element. Other titles in a similar vein include The Mouse Trap (2024) and Mouse of Horrors. I Heart Willie was directed by Alejandro G. Alegre, who is known for his previous works, such as The Devil Told Me What to Do (2018), Inicuo: The Brotherhood (2016), and Paciente 27 (2014). The screenplay was written by David Vaughn, who also portrays the film’s villain, the violent psychopath Willie.
While the film presents some intriguing mysteries and introduces a new type of Mickey Mouse-inspired villain and killer, I ultimately found it to be a significant disappointment. Sure, a Micky Mouse villain with big muscles who enjoys conducting gruesome torture does have its appeal, but sadly, it’s short-lived. The mystery of this villain is poorly explained, relying on communicating little information and back story for viewers through methods such as newspaper clippings. The violence and killings, again, had potential, but they never reached a high point. Many kills or tortures are, in fact, either too dark to see anything or off-screen, and instead, we are treated to several moments where viewers see blood being sprayed or poured up in the air. At best, you’ll see this muscle-up Micky does some stabbing and slicing flesh from his victims, but this gets boring and repetitive quickly. The film aims for a Terrifier/Art the Clown vibe but struggles to deliver.
The plot is disappointingly weak, familiar, vague, and ultimately forgettable. The setup surrounding the villain’s origin is lazy and contributes to a lack of mystery. All the characters are unlikable and make some of the most baffling, silly, and unwise decisions I’ve seen in a horror film in quite some time. The dialogue is excruciating, lacking realism in every spoken word. In moments where characters encounter a dead body, emotion and tension are absent. As a result, viewers will have no investment in our leads, who come across as selfish and childish. Visually, there are also various distractions regarding the camera work, especially in the first act. The reveal in the film’s third act is obvious, yet I still can’t confidently say I fully understand the story behind it as it remains too vague and absurd. Throughout the movie, I found it difficult to care or feel any interest in what was happening. Additionally, the after-credit scene feels utterly pointless.
Overall, while I appreciate the creative ideas and concepts presented on-screen, this muscular Mickey Mouse villain with a penchant for torturing others unfortunately comes across as ridiculous and goofy (see what I did there?). Unfortunately, it fails to deliver humour or horror and lacks substance, with the horror elements feeling bland and repetitive. Most of the kills occur off-screen, which diminishes the impact. Additionally, I was disappointed by the story’s lack of detail and clarity, particularly regarding the predictable twist ending. The biggest flaw, however, lies in the dialogue, which feels childish and one-dimensional. Characters repeatedly make unwise choices, which does not add to the entertainment value. Instead, it felt like the actual torture was watching this film.
FILM SCORE: 1.0/10
Published: 25th February 2025
Written by: Peter Walkden
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