Exit 8 (2025) Review

Viktoria
Apr 28
4 min read

Director: Genki Kawamura

Year of release: 2025

Country of origin: Japan

Spoiler status: No spoilers

The official poster for the 2025 movie Exit 8. We see a dark corridor with some light at the end. Somewhere at the halfway point there's a yellow sign hanging from the ceiling. It says Exit 8, but the number is upside down. Down the corridor there's a child standing. There's also a tagline on the poster above the title, it says 'turn back'. — *Exit 8* (2025) poster © AOI Promotion et al.

Exit 8 is a psychological horror based on a 2023 video game of the same name. It's an Escher-esque nightmare with its never-ending loop of trials. Getting out seems simple: follow the 4 rules found on the wall. Don't overlook any anomalies. If you find an anomaly, turn back immediately, but if there aren't any, carry on. The final rule says to ensure you successfully reach exit 8. This all seems pretty self-explanatory, but unfortunately, the anomalies aren't always that simple to spot. This might not be the scariest horror movie you'll ever watch, but it will definitely be one of the most memorable ones. With its dark scenes, grotesque creatures, and existential themes, it will sink deep into your mind and stay with you long after the credits roll.

If you're not into super slow-burn horror with a few real scares scattered around, you will find this movie extremely boring. But if you like deeper themes that make great conversation starters after the movie ends, this is a must-watch for you.

The Plot of Exit 8

Exit 8 is one of those movies you have to be in the mood for. It's got numerous layers to think about, and not everything will be obvious. The plot follows a man who enters a seemingly never-ending hallway that seems to be a metaphor for his own life, or better said, for the hardships he's facing at the moment. He keeps going in circles as he tries to face his fears of this place, as well as those outside it. This one isn't your usual slow-paced, psychological horror. It drags out and keeps on repeating itself, forcing the main character, as well as the viewer, to relive the same things over and over again. Usually, I'm pretty good at guessing what comes next, but this movie kept me in the dark the whole time. Even though the motives were repetitive, I never knew what to expect next. In an age where movies are painfully predictable, a story that still has some mystery is refreshing.

A movie still from Exit 8 (2025). The protagonist is standing in a clean, white tiled hallway. A bit further ahead, the sign Exit 8 is hanging from the ceiling. — *Exit 8* (2025) film still © AOI Promotion et al.

Is Exit 8 actually scary?

Exit 8 isn't scary in the traditional sense. You won't reach for this movie when you want to experience truly great scares. This one builds dread using existential topics and social commentary. It does have some grotesque creatures with shock factor, but this movie doesn't scare, it unsettles. One might ask if this is enough? If you're into overthinking, this will fuel your nightmares for days. Going in circles, with no clear way out? And on top of that, you must face your fears to get out of there? Yeah, if you don't like self-reflection or movies with a deeper meaning, make sure to avoid this one.

A movie still from the 2025 movie Exit 8. The protagonist is standing in front of a man who has a creepy smile on his face. The protagonist's expression is something between realization and panic. — *Exit 8* (2025) film still © AOI Promotion et al.

Exit 8 - The Game

As I already mentioned, Exit 8 is based on a 2023 game. Since I'm not a big fan of horror games, I didn't play it, but I did watch some walkthroughs. I can say with confidence that they truly stuck to the source material. The biggest difference was the addition of a new part of the corridor in the movie, which, luckily, didn't take away from the story. If anything, it gave it a more bottle movie feel, making the atmosphere even more eerie and suffocating. There's also the fact that our main character, 'the lost man', didn't really have a backstory in the game. It was added in the movie to drive the narrative. I'd say the game is less psychology-based, while the movie introduces themes like emotional growth, acceptance, and perhaps even forgiveness. This game was an absolutely perfect choice for a story that wants to deal with deeper topics.

A still from the 2023 video game Exit 8. A man in business attire is walking down a white tiled corridor. Something dark is oozing from one of the vent shafts. — *Exit 8* (2025) game still © Kotake Create et al.

Who is Escher?

We can't talk about Exit 8 as a movie without discussing M. C. Escher. He was a Dutch graphic artist who explored impossible, mathematically inspired structures and infinite patterns. Even though he wasn't mentioned in the game, he was heavily referenced in the movie. Starting with the famous Escher piece titled "Möbius Strip II", it's obvious that the director is hinting at endless repetitiveness. At first, the viewer might think this points to the seemingly hopeless situation of our 'lost man', but slowly we realize it also represents the everyday life of the working man. Another smart pointer at that is 'the walking man', dressed in business attire, forever going in circles, unable to find his way out. Connecting Escher's theme to the story of Exit 8 was a great move. It gave another layer to the already eerie atmosphere, which makes the movie much scarier than the source material.

A still from the 2025 movie Exit 8. On the image we can see a poster hanging on the white tiled wall of the corridor. The poster had Escher's Möbius Strip II on it. On the strip ants are walking around. The poster also has the artist's name written on it. At the top left corner of the poster there's something on the wall, it's dark red, looks like blood. — *Exit 8* (2025) film still © AOI Promotion et al.

Is Exit 8 Good?

Exit 8 can be a great movie if you're in the right mood for it. It's not something you'll watch when you need to shut your brain off for an hour and a half. It has layers, and it feels like a puzzle. You'll be left with a lot of questions, and you'll find yourself randomly thinking about different scenes of it in the following days. But even though it delves into some heavy topics, it's definitely entertaining. If you like slow-burn psychological horrors, this one will be right up your alley. But be aware, this one will make you think about things you might not be ready for yet.

Rating: 🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️

Exit 8 gets a rare 5/5 because it's different in the best possible way. It's definitely entertaining, it pulls a lot of inspiration from pop culture in a way that's not flashy, and it's a great conversation piece. There's no such thing as perfect, but if there were, this movie would be incredibly close to it.