TIFF Review: Exit 8 is a Video Game Adaptation Rich in Allegory

      Adapting a video game like the indie-horror sensation The Exit 8 from 2023 presents a unique challenge. Unlike typical adaptations, this game lacks a coherent plot or storyline to draw from, relying instead on a compelling high-concept idea. The Exit 8 is a first-person walking simulator set in an underground passageway that loops, beginning at Exit 0. As you navigate through repeated corridors, you must adhere to two rules: 1) if everything seems normal, continue walking; 2) if you see any "anomalies," turn back at once. Make the right choice, and your exit number will rise when the loop restarts. However, if you choose incorrectly, you revert to Exit 0. The only way out is to reach the eighth exit; otherwise, you remain trapped indefinitely.

      The game's straightforward gameplay and its place within the popular liminal horror subgenre contributed to its viral success—over 1.5 million copies have been sold—and popularity among streamers, whose content has garnered millions of views. But how can one create a feature-length film from a game that can be completed in mere minutes? For director and co-writer Genki Kawamura, the answer lies in horror's enduring technique of embracing allegory, with Exit 8’s premise reflecting how routines can ensnare us in cycles of negative behaviors. The film's protagonist is The Lost Man (Kazunari Ninomiya), who we observe during his daily journey through the Tokyo subway. While navigating the intricate network of pedestrian tunnels, he receives a call from his ex-girlfriend, revealing she is pregnant and that he must decide if she should keep the baby.

      Caught in a state of indecision, the call is interrupted before he can respond, and he soon realizes the path he is on keeps repeating, down to the silent businessman (Yamato Kochi) who passes him at every turn. These initial scenes closely mimic the game, with Kawamura and cinematographer Keisuke Imamura employing long Steadicam shots and seamless cuts to create a wandering perspective, allowing viewers to spot anomalies. The fact that much of the first act holds interest with minimal dialogue and a simple, repetitive setup underscores the strength of the game's concept, where the notion of being thrown into an eerie alternate reality produces a subtle tension on its own.

      The narrative of The Lost Man does eventually need to evolve, which leads to a mixed execution in how Exit 8 builds on its source material. At one point, the film diverts to explore the backstory of the walking businessman in a clever, unexpected segment that adds depth to the mystery of the looping exits. It also introduces a young boy whom The Lost Man accompanies as he attempts to find his way out; this new character refocuses the man's struggle with fatherhood in an unoriginal and somewhat disappointing manner.

      A more thoughtfully crafted character arc or thematic representation might have given Exit 8 a more fulfilling ending. Kawamura’s attempts to infuse his own vision into the adaptation feel too straightforward and conventional to align with the intriguing concept; the film's use of Ravel’s "Boléro" is just one such instance. The Lost Man comes across as an underdeveloped character, and his anxiety and guilt regarding his inability to take responsibility are less compelling to explore than the setting he is trying to escape. The plot serves merely to fit The Exit 8 into this format, revealing the film’s constraints compared to the game. The absence of a narrative in The Exit 8 allows players to experience and interpret it in myriad ways; in contrast, Exit 8's narrative confines its perspective to a single character arc and interpretation.

      This results in a slight disappointment, as Exit 8 feels somewhat muted given the promise of its premise. Fans of the game may find satisfaction in Kawamura’s homage, with the production design effectively recreating the game’s environment along with various anomalies (though some of the most memorable encounters from the game are sadly not present here). It is an adaptation that expands and contracts its source material in various ways—some successful, others not as much—and represents a solid piece of psychological horror that acknowledges the strengths of its inspiration, even if it shows little ambition to enhance them.

      Exit 8 was screened at TIFF and is set to be released by NEON in 2026.