Exit 8

Our life experience in this world condensed into a beautiful cinematic exhibition

This is my first review for MDL, so please be kind with me 😊

I stumbled upon this movie by chance, but I am very grateful to know that this "type" of movie exists. I know this is based on the video game "The Exit 8" but it is unlike any other movies based on games. This has lots of esoteric symbolism. Everything in this movie has a meaning. I mean, everything! Hidden in plain sight.

Cinematography and directing are tight and very interesting, to the point that we as the audience can feel that we are involved in finding the "anomalies" and making decisions (I found myself shouting "move ahead!", or "no! go back!") basically becoming part of the movie. We just don't watch passively. I'm not familiar with Genki Kawamura's other works (the director of this movie), but will be sure to check out more from him. Top-notch screenwriting as well.

The entire cast' acting is amazing, especially the main lead, Kazunari Ninomiya. It's one of his best performances. A cameo appearance by Nana Komatsu is also a welcome addition and perfect for the role (because she's now a mother, right?).

Now, what makes this movie perfect is not the production, but the hidden meaning behind all the esoteric symbolism, because it can help us in finding the realization. It is up to us to find the subtle clues by paying attention to the details of our surroundings, and then make meaningful connections (This poster represents one thing, that "walking man" represents another, the boy represents that, and so on and so forth).

Once we are able to make a connection about that whole experience of being "stuck in the loop" actually represents our life in this world, this movie can help us to exit this matrix. All we need to do is to keep moving and pay attention to our surroundings (see the signs, anomalies, glitches in the matrix, etc.), not get distracted by things this world offers — like things that are not essential or needed for our escape, also to persevere and be patient on our journey, and to not repeating the same pattern of mistakes again that can make us to regret. Those are the values brought up in the movie.

Simply said, this is ultimately the best movie in years. Of course, only "those who get it will get it, and those who don't won't", but even if you don't seem to get it, just pay attention and be patient in watching the movie (patience is required, as in living a life in this world) — then try to make a connection to your life. Your life may not be the same again.

Good luck in finding the exit!!

10/10

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Perfect Movie yet many questions (with theories)

partly spoilers at the end, however I'll note again. My theories and answers to open questions are at the end.
I haven't played the game tho I know about from social media and I know about the movie from social media. Didn't think I'd be excited to watch it as movies about games usually are mostly flops or just overhyped. But the hype here is relatively non-existent (perhaps because it didn't enter western markets yet or so I assume)

However I finally decided to watch it (language barrier yet I was able to understand most of it) and it was really good. For the length it's a very good movie and has great rewatch value (though exciting things probably made the movie better)

I know some things from the game as I watched the gameplay a month ago or so when I saw the trailer for the movie, therefore it was even more exciting.. So my first suggestion is to watch the gameplay to know at least some anomalies etc.. However this shouldn't turn you away as there practically isn't any anomaly from the game copied 1:1, instead just some that are similar to the game's anonalies. So I praise their efforts for investing time in making new anomalies though I think that's given. The plot itself is very good and it isn't that scary at all, however some CGI or editing things whatever they use nowadays looked very very cheap so that's something that couldve gone better (or I just have high standards) but it didn't ruin the plot at all. The camera setting and cinematography in general is perfect like they match the game's vibe a lot and were used very efficiently. The music is very basic yet creates another atmosphere every time though it was very misleading very often.

Spoiler section!!:

I mean the monster rats, I think they would've been actually scary if they looked realistic or something. Because after all the movie isn't scary at all but at least they didn't use jumpscares to artificially blow up its scariness.. But after all the game itself isn't really scary, though it's known as horror game. Perhaps the idea of being stuck in a never-ending loop is the scary thing.

There are some things that bug me here, especially the kid. It seems like it's the child of his girlfriend and therefore his child too, however not born yet. I thougth its an anomaly at first too, and kept thinking so for a while, because after all in the game there is an anomaly where the sign continues to show 0 until you turn back again, I thougth that was the case here.

I didn't like the story of the running man or the walking man because it made me thinking they'd just skip characters and that this movie has no meaningful ending, because why would you just skip the ML at the most exciting part? and the man really wasnt more than a plot filler, the anomaly of the wrong ending is in the game too, that's like the only anomaly they've copied 1:1, because even the "blood tsunami" wasn't a blood tsunami here.

What's bugging me more is that the child could hear the ML scream when he already passed (as we could see in the child's POV for short) but in the end he couldn't hear the ML approaching even though there were just like a dozen seconds apart?
What I didn't understand was the part where the anomaly was everything being yellow, did this mean it was radioactive or something because he seemingly had an asthma attack but that and his reaction might've just been because of him experiencing this as this probably was his lowest point in the movie.
We can notice a huge development of the ML which is too huge in my opinion, first of all its visible by him not needing the asthma spray anymore and second of all his behavior in general. Of course the development might be symbolic e.g. him protecting a child etc but like he seemed very insecure in the beginning and was about to lose it so the development was too quick, perhaps the length of the movie contributed to this.

The ending already seemed off, I already thougth the exit was wrong. Perhaps it's a new wrong exit anomaly, because the ending in the game is different too. It doesn't end at 8 but you have to do the 8th round again, to pass. I think the ML didn't do the 8th round and the entrance with the number 8 on the sign appeared right after he finished 7 where there was no anomaly. So level 8 itself was an anomaly and he just reentered the loop without knowing,

OR he did know or did not know but still wanted to reenter the game to find the boy, because after all why did he board the train again if his initial goal was to head home I guess, why would he board the same train?
After I rewatched the beginning to check something (I forgot what I wanted to check but it was still worth it to rewatch the beginning). In the beginning the scenes are practically the same (as they were just recycled in the ending when switched to POV lol) however what I noticed is that when he scrolled on his phone at the beginning some anomalies were there like I saw the giant rat with the human ear and the beach he dreamed from. Furthermore, I think when we are able to see him through the reflections of the door's windows we can see that he doesn't wear a bag (or its straps aren't visible because they are really similar colours to his jacket). This either was a film mistake or intentionally to show that the ending and the beginning are practically the same, as his bag isn't visible until the POV switches.

So my main theory is that the guy is aware of being stuck in a loop and perhaps boarded the same train to reenter the place to look for the boy. After all a call with his girlfriend was already an anomaly, and both times, so when he was stuck in the exit and at the end, there were baby screams coming from the phone even tho I assume the baby wasn't born yet as there were none at the beginning. But if you have other information I missed because of the language barrier feel free to correct me.

However as already said this movie was very great and blew my expectations, will we get to see a second movie (not necessary tbh) where the ML is still looking for the boy? If the boy is his child I still don't know why he wasn't an anomaly.. For a monent I thougth the ML would've died in the tsunami and the boy survived, which could make sense as the FL already is pregnant and the boy could come to existence by exiting. However my biggest fear was that the FL would've lost contact to him (as he died in the loop) right after she told him she's pregnant which would've probably led to even worse things.

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A rare case where more jumpscares would benefit the movie.

It’s based on a really simple concept filled with really effective jumpscares, and then made it more complex and took away the majority of the potential jumpscares and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

I don’t think it gives me enough substance to see the potential depth and build that psychological horror of the situation and male lead’s real life circumstances, but since it also took away a lot of the typical horror elements, it also does not quite serve as a good horror movie. It balances between simple, but effective and complex and reflective and does not really hit a homerun in any direction.

If I had to guess? Analyze? I’d say the theme of the movie is dealing with regret and guilt. The loop is not just about checking for anomalies, but also about dealing with your inner struggles. Male lead regretted his hesitation after hearing the news from his ex-girlfriend, he regretted not helping the mother in the subway. He regretted his inaction. Hence the ending somehow makes sense for me. It’s left to various interpretations though, there is no clear cut idea what it means. And that’s kind of how the whole movie rolls - throwing stuff at you without explanation, things that feel related, but not quite. You kind of get the full picture, but not really.

Ninomiya Kazunari did a great job as Lost Man, but I have to say my favorite performance was Kochi Yamato as Walking Man. Be it for his creepy blank expression, or even creepier smile. Or his desperation and regret, fear, anger. Such a tiny bit of the plot, yet such an expressive performance.

To be honest I feel like the movie was both too annoying and not annoying enough. I should feel the frustration of the lead being stuck in the loop, but I don’t feel like he was stuck in it that long… The number of mistakes he made was minimal to what would be expected, knowing how minimal some anomalies are. At the same time I was so annoyed, because he kept lingering a bit too long in the corridor even after noticing the anomalies. What are you exactly waiting for? There is no new development going on - you see something off, you turn around right away. And yet this man was checking them all out as if he was in a haunted house in an amusement park.

It was a decent movie, maybe the issue were my expectations.

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"The Exit That Never Exists"

First Impressions

The Exit 8 looks very simple at first..... just one man trying to leave a subway station. But the more you watch, the more you feel trapped with him. The repetition is not boring; it is suffocating.

What Pulled Me In

• The creepy atmosphere created only with small details like posters, stairs, and people.
• The actor’s performance... his face showed fear, confusion, and finally helplessness.
• The way the film built tension without loud horror tricks.
• It made me think about life as a routine loop.

Where It Faltered

• The pace is very slow; some viewers may get impatient.
• Many clues are so subtle that casual viewers will miss them.
• The ending gives no clear answers, which can frustrate people who want closure.

Between the Lines (little spoilers)

Many viewers believe the man finally escaped at the end. But for me, he never left the loop. He never took the stairs going up to the real world.... instead, he went down again and entered the same train. His face in the last scene showed realisation and helplessness: he understood he was forever trapped. That was the real horror for me.

Lingering Aftertaste

The film stayed in my head long after it ended. The idea that escape is an illusion is deeply disturbing. It is not a typical horror movie, but a psychological experience.

Adaptation Note

The Exit 8 is adapted from the Japanese indie video game “The Exit 8” (8番出口), created by Kotake Create (コタケクリエイト). The film keeps the game’s concept of spotting anomalies in a looping underground passage and turns it into a tense psychological journey on screen.

Final Verdict

If you want fast action or clear answers, this is not for you. But if you enjoy psychological thrillers that play with your mind and leave you unsettled, The Exit 8 is worth watching. For me, the scariest part was the endless loop and the hopeless acceptance on the man’s face.

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Fascinating !

This movie really positively surprised me, it was quite popular in Japan and the hype is deserved. It is apparently the adaptation of a video game, which I did not play, but after watching it, I can definitely picture how good (and angst inducing) such a game could be.

In addition to having a great production full of details, the minimal cast does a great job providing an immersive experience to the viewers. The story might feel repetitive to some but that's the point of the movie, making its characters and the viewers as well going painfully into a loop. The ending is very smart in leaving room to interpretation.

I truly recommend watching this movie blind as it relies a lot on a surprise effect. The movie is very angsty, purposeful and with a great cinematography. If you are looking for a very good brain scratch, this is definitely the watch for you.

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What is the purpose of this movie ?

I didn't play the game but I liked the concept.

While watching the movie, I understood the plot but I kept asking myself: what is the purpose of this movie ? I understood that it is about a man trying to escape from a labyrinth but what else is it about?

One scene changed everything: when the main character sees himself in a dream with his child. I think this movie is not only about a labyrinth; it is also about becaming a parent.

In the first scene, we see a mother with her baby having trouble on a train. Later we see a boy in the Labyrinth who runs away from his mother.

The Walking Man meets the boy and decides to leave the labyrinth with him but he never listens to the boy and he choose to take a "Shortcut". For me, this is a very significative scene. They are no Shortcut to becoming a good dad.

At the beginning of the movie, the main character learns he is going to become a father. He encounters many anomalies that cry like babies. Especially the babies in the locker scene, which reminded me of old news stories where Womem who couldn’t get abortions left their babies in a coin locker. For me the anomalies are the representations of the fear of becoming a parents and the idea that he may have wanted to abort because he didn’t know whether he would be a good father or not.
Step by step, he progresses through the labyrinth and becomes more confident, just like when you become a parent. At first you don't really know what to do, but little by little, you learn. He meets the boy, and after choosing to move forward together, he starts listening to him. Like a parent and a child, they help each other. He guides the boy and the boy also helps him. Together, they manage to get out.

The labyrinth represents the road to becoming a good parent: it is not easy. You can make mistakes, but you can’t give up, because nobody knows the right path from the beginning.

At the end, however, the meaning of the movie becomes darker, because the main character seems to be trapped in a loop again again...

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the plot wants to be better

for everyone planning to watch, it’s worth noting: this is a typical japanese film that doesn’t offer a consistent plot or direct answers, although to me it feels much lighter than usual.
i really liked the concept itself, the idea is truly original. however, the execution left much to be desired. in my opinion, the film lacked unusual anomalies and scary moments, especially considering that it identifies itself as horror and thriller. unfortunately, due to the small number of events, it felt like i watched the movie in just a few minutes. still, the actors played their roles well, their performance really pulled the atmosphere together. there was also a decent overall vibe, but if the script had been more generous with events, the overall impression would have been better.

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Certainly creative but at times, frustrating.

Exit 8 does some well and truly clever things in the sound design. Yes, enough so to be the first line of my review. The opening section is all done so cleverly in an immersive way, which is also the strongest section of the film in my opinion. Additionally, the choice for Ravel’s Bolero to be the main theme of the film is a witty one - a piece that is lengthy with lots of repetition of the main theme on different instruments, much like Exit 8’s hallway. The piece and the film have the same major issue for me - an excessive use of variations on a theme. While engaging, I feel the film could have done a little more with the fear factor.

Luckily, the film does bring some variation, and in doing so it explores some existential themes, while sticking to the core premise and exploring it a bit further.

The strengths of the film:
- Immersive sound design. (Brilliant use of surround sound!)
- Visually crisp and clean.
- Strong acting performances.
- Underlying human themes.

The weaknesses of the film:
- A sense of monotony begins to creep in throughout.
- Some painfully unrealistic character reactions. (Where I became frustrated at times.)
- Variations could have maintained better momentum.

Definitely a good film, and I’d go as far as to say clever, but I wouldn’t say brilliant. Worth a watch if you’re interested, a fan of the game, or if you’d like something different from the usual. Best experienced in cinemas or with surround sound. Also an easy watch without subtitles even if you only understand some very basic Japanese, as this film has little dialogue, of which most is mercifully simple.

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