Alejandro G. Alegre’s I Heart Willie is a film that knows exactly what it is—a campy, gore-filled fever dream loosely inspired by Steamboat Willie. While it borrows heavily from horror classics like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, this twisted slasher tale still manages to stand out with its absurdity and unexpected moments of brilliance. Despite some obvious flaws, I Heart Willie is a fun and bizarre ride that horror fans should check out—just don’t expect Scorsese.
One of the film’s biggest highlights is its audacity. From the very beginning, the audience is thrown into the madness with a recreated version of the Steamboat Willie cartoon, setting the tone for what’s to come. The film’s killer, Willie, is a deformed man-child who supposedly inspired the original character before becoming a skin-stitching psychopath, and the film isn’t afraid to lean into its bizarre premise. At times, it feels like a genuine fever dream—especially when Willie gleefully says “Oh Boy” in a disturbingly accurate Mickey voice. Moments like this make the film surreal yet strangely captivating.
The film’s cast is made up of typical horror movie archetypes—the goth girl, the good girl, the emo guy, and the nerd—but their interactions often feel unnecessarily stretched out, as if the film is padding its runtime with aimless conversations. However, Maya Luna as Nora stands out, delivering a performance that far exceeds the material she’s given. Her monologue about encountering a Mickey Mouse-masked figure as a child is clearly an attempt at a heavy-handed homage to Donald Pleasance’s iconic 'black eyes' speech from Halloween (1978). While it’s an ambitious moment, it ultimately doesn’t land as intended.
From a technical standpoint, the film has moments that rise above typical low-budget horror, but there are some glaring issues. Some shots are inexplicably out of focus due to user error, and yet they somehow made the final cut, which is distracting. The practical effects, however, are surprisingly effective. While many kills happen off-screen, the ones we do see—especially the gruesome skin removal sequences—are impressively brutal. It’s not on the level of Terrifier, but gorehounds should find enough to enjoy.
One of the more entertaining aspects of I Heart Willie is its bizarre tonal shifts. There’s an oddly serious conversation about the history of Mickey Mouse and Steamboat Willie that feels completely out of place. On the other hand, there are moments where the film fully embraces its absurdity, such as the Disney-style font used for captions and a scene where a character masturbates to a cartoon. These ridiculous choices somehow add to the film’s charm when it stops taking itself too seriously.
The soundtrack is another highlight, channeling the whimsical yet eerie tone of classic Disney cartoons. It’s an inspired choice that enhances the film’s overall weirdness, making it feel like something that exists in a nightmarish version of Fantasia.
The film’s twist is one of its stronger points. It’s a solid reveal that initially catches you off guard, but as the pieces fall into place, it becomes fairly predictable. Still, it’s fun to see the filmmakers attempt something different, even if it doesn’t fully stick the landing. The final act delivers enough shocks to keep things engaging, and the Bonnie & Clyde-style dynamic introduced toward the end adds an unexpected layer to the story.
Ultimately, I Heart Willie is a mixed bag, but one that leans more toward the enjoyable side. It’s not a great film, but it’s far better than expected. Compared to other recent public-domain horror films, it falls somewhere in the middle—different and original enough to be interesting, but amateurish enough to make you wonder why it was made in the first place. However, one thing is certain: it’s a much more cohesive and engaging take on the Steamboat Willie-inspired horror concept than The Mouse Trap.
And yes, there’s a post-credits scene teasing a sequel. And yes, I will watch it. Actually, I’m anticipating it. If you go into I Heart Willie with the right expectations—embracing its absurdity and low-budget charm—you’re in for a weirdly fun ride. Grab your popcorn, lower your expectations, and enjoy the madness.
Jessie Hobson