Exit 8 (Film)

When the independent Japanese game The Exit 8 (JP: 8番出口) by Kotake Create was released in 2023, it made a big splash on the indie game landscape, inspiring numerous other games to put their own spin on its unique anomaly hunting mechanics. This popularity would eventually lead to it getting a Japanese live-action film adaptation, titled Exit 8 (JP: 8番出口), directed by Genki Kawamura, in 2025. The existence of the film adaptation intrigued me even as someone who hadn’t played the game but knew about it, more so when distributor Neon gave it a limited (sub-only) US theatrical run earlier this week. Not knowing when I’d have another chance to see it, I managed to secure tickets for the most convenient screening within my area and found it to be well worth the effort.

An unnamed man, credited as The Lost Man (Kazunari Ninomiya), is traveling by subway when he gets a call from his ex-girlfriend that she is pregnant. Unsure how to handle this situation, The Lost Man starts panicking while exiting the station, during which he unknowingly ends up in a sterile, nearly uninhabited hallway. When the hallway begins to loop, he must find his way out by observing for anomalies or be trapped forever.

The Lost Man (Kazunari Ninomiya) must make his way to Exit 8 by searching for
anomalies.

The game itself doesn’t really have a plot so much as an objective, which presents an extra challenge when adapting a video game to film. Fortunately, the film succeeds on all fronts, using the game’s mechanics to inform and enhance the plot while also using the setting as an effective metaphor for what The Lost Man is mentally going through. The minimal cast also enhances the inherent feeling of isolation brought upon by the liminal space he finds himself in, while also being expertly worked into the carefully crafted symbolism found in the adaptation. The plot is also written in such a way that you don’t have to have played the game to get invested, but it is clear that it was made with passion by people who fully understand said game.

This passion for the source material is reflected in the set design, as the hallway seen in the film is a near 1:1 recreation of the one seen in the game. The main differences are the designs of some signage and posters, as well as the addition of some extra objects around the corner to keep track of, but these work for both the symbolism and the potential for more unique anomalies not seen in the game. On that, the visual effects for the film, including the anomalies, were stellar, made even more impressive with the knowledge that practical effects were utilized as often as possible. Especially impressive is how the film accomplishes the effect of the loops, as the transition between them is seamless to the point where, even knowing how they accomplished the effect, I still wonder how they managed to have no noticeable cuts during longer shots. Overall, some of the best editing work I’ve seen in a more modern film.

The hallway in the game...

...is replicated in the film.

Not to be outdone, the acting is what brings it all together. Kazunari Ninomiya’s performance really sells the anguish and frustration felt by The Lost Man, allowing even those more familiar with the game to feel the same disappointment as him whenever his progress is somehow reset due to an oversight in his observations. Talking about other actors would go into spoiler territory, but their performances are nonetheless equally stellar. As the film was sub-only, most of these opinions are based on the actors’ strong body language, though I will add that the dialogue was paced in a way that the subs were easy to keep up with, and the subs themselves were easy to read both visually (a black border on white text really goes a long way) and without distracting too much from the visuals. The largely ambient music by Yasutaka Nakata (CAPSULE) and Shohei Amimori helps to sell the aforementioned feeling of isolation, though musical stings are droning are used sparingly and at appropriate points to effectively emphasize heightened emotions.

With its combination of immersive story, impressive effects and stellar performances, Exit 8 is easily one of the best video game adaptations in recent memory and a really good film in its own right. If you are able to watch this film and are a fan of psychological horror, I highly recommend trying to watch it when you can, whether you are a fan of the game or not.