"Heartstrings", like the first record, was very much influenced by film, and is recognized for its cinematic quality. Juanita indicated that they deliberately made the album to sound like a soundtrack to a movie. Howling Bells along with the production team watched "Paris, Texas" and "Blue Velvet", in an effort to replicate the mood, emotion, and atmosphere of these two films in particular. Other films that played a significant role in the making of "Heartstrings" include, "Badlands", "Bonnie and Clyde", "Klute", "", "Nashville", "Pleasantville", "The Last Picture Show", and "Vivre sa vie".