Exit 8 (2025) Review – From The Backrooms to the Liminal Subway

Welcome to Knockout Horror and to our review of the Japanese horror movie Exit 8 (2025). This movie debuted at Cannes in 2025, released in its native Japan back in August 2025, and is hit the big screen in the west in April of 2026.

A Trip Through Subway Corridors

I know! Everyone is talking about Backrooms and I haven’t even reviewed it, yet. Truth is, I’m just about wrapping up a series of major repair projects on our car and getting to the cinema has been way down on the priority list.

As a compromise, instead of wandering around that movie’s liminal spaces, why not wander around the liminal spaces of a Japanese subway in today’s film – Exit 8? In fact, Exit 8 would probably serve as a perfect accompaniment movie to the aforementioned horror hit.

Based on the walking simulator, horror video game by KOTAKE CREATE – The Exit 8. The plot here is pretty simple. Our protagonist, The Lost Man (Kazunari Ninomiya), finds himself in a liminal space after taking an exit at the local subway.

“A character enters a liminal space and said character has to spot anomalies to progress towards the exit – it’s very simple.”

A sign indicates that, to find the exit, he has to keep his eye out for anomalies on each trip around the looping corridor. If he spots an anomaly, he should turn back; if not, he should carry on. Mistake after mistake and massive exhaustion will soon lead him to learn more than he ever could have imagined about himself, his future, and exactly what he wants out of life.

Video game based horror is a mixed bag

Let’s be honest, video game based horror movies are a mixed bag. Some are pretty enjoyable, sure; I actually really liked 2025’s Until Dawn, even as a big fan of the game. But the majority are something of a let down. Just take the recent Return to Silent Hill as a perfect example.

The truth of the matter is, it’s impossible not to approach the horror video-game to horror movie pipeline with just a little bit of trepidation. The two things that Exit 8 has going in its favour are a trending topic (liminal spaces) and the fact that the game it is based on has very little in the way of narrative depth.

A character enters a liminal space and said character has to spot anomalies to progress towards the exit – it’s very simple. All director Genki Kawamura had to do was build up some kind of story around that framework and try to stay true to what made the game it is based on so captivating to audiences.

That presents a bevy of challenges, though. The truth is, what made The Exit 8 popular was, in no small part, viewers watching their favourite streamers playing the game, and getting frustrated after missing one tiny anomaly, and the actual process of engaging in spotting those anomalies themselves. How does a director translate that to movie form?

It actually really works

Kawamura keeps things pretty simple. There is very little narrative here. Our protagonist is clearly in a bit of a transitional stage in his life and, as the plot progresses, he will experience some growth but the story never gets in the way. The focus is squarely on what makes the game work.

“You’ll find yourself trying to spot anomalies before the protagonist does and I’ll bet you will be sharing what you have seen while watching with a friend or loved one.”

This is, for all intents and purposes, a character repeating the same path, spotting anomalies, making mistakes, and starting again. Just like the game. If you enjoy that concept, there is plenty to like with Exit 8. I should hasten to add, however, that this is a fairly common idea in horror. Enjoyment of the video game is not a requirement to enjoying the film.

The frustration of our protagonist as the world around him twists and turns, forcing him to retrace his steps, is palpable. You almost feel his waning will to go on through the screen and, despite the thin premise, the movie stays compelling throughout.

You’ll find yourself trying to spot anomalies before the protagonist does and I’ll bet you will be sharing what you have seen while watching with a friend or loved one. My fiancee and I were having a great time pointing out things that the characters on screen were missing. It’s surprisingly engaging.

It’s actually scary, too; even beyond the pure existential dread of the scenario itself. I won’t spoil anything but certain scenes make you feel legitimately uncomfortable.

The quintessentially Japanese concept of “less is more” works wonders when it comes to keeping you in a sense of unease. The sheer fact that this liminal space has an almost malevolent nature to it keeps you guessing as to what is coming next.

Surprisingly touching despite minimal narrative

The thing that might be most surprising about Exit 8 is the fact that, despite the scant narrative, it’s actually quite touching, in parts. You will find yourself deeply engaged with the story and waiting on each little bite of progression.

Again, our protagonist is in something of a liminal space in his own life. He doesn’t know what he wants from the future and is on the precipice of making some big decisions that threaten to transform his world, potentially for the worse.

The corridors of the subway almost become a physical manifestation of his own thoughts that he has to navigate to find an exit leading to where he actually wants to be in life. They start with guilt and sadness but the ultimate goal is personal redemption, satisfaction, and happiness.

For such a threadbare story, it’s very easy to get invested and the pacing is sublime. You never feel as though you are trapped in a corridor of boredom. There’s always something happening; whether it is a story beat or another trip through the looping subway that reveals something new.

Worth mentioning

It would be remiss of me to not mention the fact that some viewers might find the repeating locations visually lethargic. Nothing major changes with the sterile white walls of the subway; that’s the nature of the game the film is based on. You might get a little bored looking at the same thing over and over.

“It should probably be pointed out that Exit 8 leans more toward psychological thriller territory rather than outright horror.”

I do feel as though the anomaly factor helps with that majorly, though. It’s architectural monotony but it is by design. You are supposed to hyper-fixate on every minor changed detail.

Japanese horror movies don’t tend to go for the grand spectacle of Hollywood horror so don’t expect much in the way of flair. Exit 8 is very restrained. Naturally, if you hated the game, the film probably won’t change your mind. It’s such a faithful recreation that it adds little to the concept beyond a minor narrative.

Acting is fantastic. Kazunari Ninomiya does a sensational job of relating his character’s fragile state of mind while always maintaining a distinct likeability. Yamato Kochi has some great moments, too. Particularly when it comes to looking terrifying.

It should probably be pointed out that Exit 8 leans more toward psychological thriller territory rather than outright horror. Despite what’s taking place seeming very physical, the focus here is really on the minds of the characters and the impact the situation has on their psyche. With that being said, there’s plenty here for horror fans to get their teeth into.

Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight

Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.

A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.

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