“Exit 8” Is an Immersive and Unsettling Video Game Adaption

Exit 8 is a Japanese film adapted from an indie video game that premiered last year at the Cannes Film Festival. That’s honestly not a statement I ever thought I would make, but it’s true—a game adaption gained enough recognition to be shown at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. Not too shabby.

The premise is straightforward: If you see an anomaly, turn back. If you don’t see an anomaly, continue forward. The source material is a puzzle-style game with a psychological horror aesthetic in which you find yourself stuck in a seemingly infinite hallway in a Japanese metro station. As you explore the same space over and over again, you will need to watch for any abnormalities that present themselves and turn around if you spot one. Doing so will allow you to progress to the next exit, but if you fail, you will start back at the beginning. It’s a very simple but clever idea that at first glance seems unadaptable to film, which makes this endeavor that much more impressive.

Now, I have to admit that I haven’t actually played the video game, but from what I know about it, the film seems to have replicated the tone and experience. For an adaptation, that is a key component, but Exit 8 goes above and beyond on this count. The end result is a strongly immersive puzzle where you feel like you’re playing along with the characters. Throughout the entire film, I was constantly trying to pick out what was different, which made for a highly engaging watch. In this instance, I’m glad I didn’t play the game before seeing the film, because I think the novelty of the concept wouldn’t have hooked me as strongly.

Neon

One element I appreciate about the film that’s different from the game is the expanded backstory of the main character, credited as the Lost Man. This is basically nonexistent in the video game but was definitely needed for an adaptation. The emotional story arc for the Lost Man is simple but effective: He is afraid to become a father and needs to find the confidence to step up when others need his help. This aspect is what allowed me to be fully invested in an otherwise procedural plot.

The horror aspects are unsettling but not too scary, which makes this movie more approachable for general audiences than some horror films. It really lives in the psychological thriller realm more than anything else. Horror buffs might be underwhelmed with these moments, but I still think they will find enjoyment in the film with proper expectations.

That being said, although a couple of unexpected things happened in the movie that helped evolve the story and keep things interesting, I wish they had taken a couple more steps in that direction to go to the next level. I enjoyed the twists and turns (no pun intended_, but they didn’t quite wow me, and I think to take the story from satisfying to unforgettable, it needed at least one “wow” moment. Still, I got exactly what I was looking for in this film, and I was overall happy with how things played out.

I’m a huge fan of movies and games that aren’t afraid to do something different, and I think that’s the biggest strength of Exit 8. Will it become the most successful video game adaptation of all time? Probably not, but there is a lot to enjoy here, and it is a unique and worthwhile experience.