Exit 8 (Blu-ray Review)
Director
Genki KawamuraRelease Date(s)
2025 (August 4, 2026)Studio(s)
Story Inc./AOI Pro./Toho (NEON/Decal Releasing)- Film/Program Grade: A-
- Video Grade: A-
- Audio Grade: A
- Extras Grade: B-
Review
In the age of video game adaptations that not only do justice to their counterparts, but in some cases perhaps even surpass them, Exit 8 may have indeed outperformed its source material and became something else entirely. It’s a relatively simple concept, and even if you’re not aware of its video game origins, it still works as a solid character study that builds upon its horror elements to create a meaningful glimpse into the life of someone in need of redemption and going through something utterly supernatural in order to receive it. It doesn’t break new ground, but its effective.
A man (Kazunari Ninomiya) is taking the subway to work, getting off after witnessing a stranger yelling at a woman with a crying baby. Once he leaves, he receives an important phone call from his ex-girlfriend (Nana Komatsu), but loses the signal and becomes lost in a never-ending loop of subway exit corridors with no clear way out. He soon finds a set of instructions that warn him to proceed only if there aren’t any anomalies, and if there are, to turn back, which is the only way to get from exits zero to eight. If he makes a single mistake, he goes back to zero. Also occupying the corridors in alternate loops is another man (Yamato Kochi), a small boy (Naru Asanuma), and a young woman (Nana Komatsu), though their loops don’t initially cross and it’s up to each of them to pay attention to the anomalies, from the minuscule to the destructive and frightening.
Based upon the 2023 video game The Exit 8, the film version is not so much straight horror as it is a study of human behavior and the need to alter one’s path, blending genres along its route while also taking inspiration from M.C. Escher (which is also incorporated into the narrative). It revolves around the frustrations of these people, mostly its unnamed lead (Kazunari Ninomiya), in trying to get themselves out of this endless loop. Time seems to have no meaning and the story is clearly modeled on the Groundhog Day idea of changing one’s destiny through repetition and reflection. The darker elements don’t actually fit all that well into this mold, especially in one sequence involving CGI creatures which feels more performative than thematic. There’s only one instance of a jump scare and it’s entirely earned as a piece of character development, which we understand more and more as the film continues.
The concept of Exit 8 as a strange horror-based narrative gets the ball rolling, but it all ties back into the characters and their eventual outcomes. We’re frustrated along with them when they don’t succeed since we’re going on this journey too. You stay invested despite the repetition and it never feels stale. Truthfully, this is some remarkable filmmaking from Genki Kawamura (producer on Suzume and Weathering with You and director of A Hundred Flowers), taking a first-person horror video game and building a very relatable and simple story on top of it. Some of the characters may never reach Exit 8, but those that do will come out on the other side entirely changed, some for the better, and it’s what we want for them.
Cinematographer Keisuke Imamura captured Exit 8 digitally in the ARRIRAW (4.6K) codec with Arri Alexa 35 and Sony A7S III cameras with Zeiss Super Speed lenses. The results were finished as a 2K Digital Intermediate and framed theatrically at the aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Decal Releasing and NEON bring the film to Blu-ray in the U.S. sourced from the 2K DI master, which has been encoded to a dual-layered BD-50 disc. It’s an attractive high definition presentation that fully absorbs the tiled subway corridors that we’re stuck in with the characters for the majority of the running time. The opening few minutes that simultaneously pay homage to the video game while also developing our lead take us through subway trains and platforms, which are soaked in detail all around. Saturation can be monochromatic due to the mostly white tiles with black grout, but there’s some variation along the way with rich color, including reds and blues. Blacks are deep with terrific contrast and the image is stable. Compression isn’t always top of the line, but it’s solid for the most part. A native 4K presentation with HDR and a muscular encode would definitely boost this film’s visuals, but it’s still a strong HD image that has plenty of visual prowess.
Audio is included in Japanese 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio with an optional English Audio Description track, as well as subtitles in English, English SDH, and French. The original Japanese track is a very creative experience, fully immersing you in the world while also toying with sound design, including moments when our lead takes his ear buds in and out, or during a flooding sequence when characters are being pelted by rushing waters. The echo chamber of the corridor is vast and we’re right there in it. Dialogue is often minimal but very discernible, while the subtitles never lose us in the moment. Some might be disappointed in the lack of an English dub, but since the film doesn’t require much to be spoken in the first place, it’s not all that necessary. The Japanese track presented here has ample impact and keeps you in the world effortlessly.
The Decal Releasing and NEON Blu-ray release of Exit 8 sits in a standard blue Amaray case with an insert featuring the U.S. theatrical poster artwork. The following extras are included, all in HD:
- The Making of Exit 8 (59:15)
- Q&A with Writer-Director Genki Kawamura (12:08)
- U.S. Trailer (2:01)
First up is the excellent documentary The Making of Exit 8, which is in Japanese with English subtitles and broken down into eight chapters: Development, Production Design, Characters, Shooting, Post Production, Climax, Open-End, and Main Theme Boléro. It discusses the challenge of making the film, the difficulty in adapting video games to other mediums, the film’s thematics, structuring the film, building the world, creating and casting the characters, and dealing with editing and visual effects. The whole production was documented and much of it is shown here, featuring footage and interviews with director Genki Kawamura; producers Yuko Satata and Kenji Yamada; screenwriter Kentaro Hirase; production designer Ryo Sugimoto; cinematographer Keisuke Imamura; editor Sakura Seya; visual effects supervisor Seiji Masamoto; stylist Daisuke Iga; game creator Kotake Create; and actors Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Nana Komatsu, and Kotone Hanase.
Next is a set of various Q&As, which took place during a “Midnight Passion” screening of the film at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in 2025, featuring Genki Kawamura, Kazunari Ninomiya, and Yamato Kochi. Last is the film’s U.S. trailer.
Unfortunately there’s a number of bonus materials that were included with Toho’s Blu-ray release in Japan that didn’t make the cut here. They include 7.1 and 2.0 Japanese audio options; the Entering Exit 8 TV special; a set of Cannes Film Festival Footage; the Japanese trailer; two teaser trailers; three TV spots; and three internet promos. That release also includes swag items such as a photo booklet and a sheet of stickers, among other things. Needless to say, there’s much more that can be done with Exit 8 outside of Japan on physical media, especially in 4K. Nevertheless, don’t pass up the opportunity to see this film. It’s one of my favorites of 2026, and comes very highly recommended.
- Tim Salmons
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