A new trailer for the Japanese thriller Exit 8 has been released, offering a look at the film adaptation of the viral video game. Distributed by NEON, the movie follows a man caught in a sterile, endless underground passageway.
The film stars Kazunari Ninomiya as the protagonist who must navigate the loop by following a strict set of rules. To escape, he must reach the eighth exit, but his progress resets to the beginning if he fails to notice small, unsettling changes in his environment.
A ‘unique cinematic experience’
Directed by Genki Kawamura, the film aims to do more than just replicate the source material. Kawamura, who produced the hit anime Your Name, won Best Director at San Sebastián for his previous work.
Speaking about the project, Kawamura said: “When I adapted this video game into a film, I didn’t set out thinking, ‘Let’s make this video game into a film.’ What I wanted to create is a unique cinematic experience that blurs the lines between video game and film.”
Critical success and festival run
The movie has already found success on the international festival circuit. It premiered in the Midnight section at Cannes and has since appeared at festivals in Toronto, Busan, and Rotterdam.
Read more: Mari Yamamoto Interview: The ‘Rental Family’ Star on Finding Hope in a Tragicomic World
In Japan, the film has been a significant commercial success, earning roughly $27m (£21m) at the box office. It also currently holds a 97% rating on the review site Rotten Tomatoes.
Rules of the corridor
The story is based on the game by Kotake Create, which became a global sensation for its “liminal space” horror. The premise relies on a simple yet punishing mechanic:
-
Observe everything: Players must look for anything out of the ordinary.
-
Turn back: If an anomaly is spotted, you must immediately reverse direction.
-
Carry on: If everything looks normal, you continue forward.
-
The penalty: Any mistake sends the character back to the start of the corridor.
The film also stars Nana Komatsu, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, and Kotone Hanase. It is scheduled for a nationwide theatrical release on 10 April 2026.
