The Japanese psychological horror film Exit 8 has captured international attention following its remarkable premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Based on the cult indie video game “The Exit 8” that became a viral sensation with over 1.4 million downloads worldwide, this innovative adaptation is set to terrify audiences when it releases in Japan on August 29, 2025.
Screened at Cannes
Director Genki Kawamura’s mind-bending thriller was earlier screened at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, receiving an extraordinary 8-minute standing ovation from a sold-out crowd as a part of its Midnight Screenings on May 19, 2025. The film was so well-received that its poster even won the Prix Luciole Award for best poster design among Cannes submissions.
The Story
Exit 8 follows “The Lost Man” (played by Kazunari Ninomiya from the legendary boy band Arashi), who becomes trapped in an endless, sterile Tokyo subway corridor. The rules are deceptively simple: don’t overlook anything out of the ordinary, spot anomalies to turn back immediately, and find a way to Exit 8. But a single oversight sends him back to the beginning of this nightmarish loop.
The film transforms the minimalist video game concept into a psychological thriller exploring themes of guilt, redemption, and the fear of fatherhood. Critics have praised it as “possibly the best video game adaptation ever made” and a masterpiece of liminal space horror.
Cast, Crew & Release Details
Genre: Psychological Horror/Thriller
Director/Writer: Genki Kawamura (producer of Your Name, Monster)
Stars: Kazunari Ninomiya, Nana Komatsu, Yamato Kochi
Based on: The Exit 8 video game by Kotake Create
Music: Yasutaka Nakata and Shohei Amimori
Japan Release: August 29, 2025 (Toho); International: September 2025 (projected)
Language: Japanese
Runtime: 95 minutes
Watch the Official Trailer
Check out the haunting official trailer that showcases the film’s unsettling atmosphere and psychological terror:
Exit 8 promises to redefine video game adaptations with its innovative approach to translating interactive horror into cinematic terror. Don’t miss this unique descent into subway horror when it hits cinemas.
