Written and directed by Genki Kawamura, co-written by Hirase Kentaro, and based on the video game by Kotake Create. A man becomes increasingly desperate when he realizes he is trapped in a subway station, needing to complete a mission to get out. Starring: Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase and Nana Komatsu.
Successfully adapting a video game is no easy task, there are many who have done it poorly so it’s always satisfying to find a filmmaker who’s up to the challenge, and Genki Kawamura certainly was. Exit 8 is an inherently repetitive concept, even more so in that it’s set within a very visually limited space with white tiles aplenty and not a lot else, so Kawamura being able to consistently hold your attention consistently is genuinely impressive before you even dive into the rest.
Part of why its so engaging is how it employs genre, playing between horror, mystery and thriller, using all of them to its advantage and never leaning on a single one too heavily. Particularly when it comes to horror, it comes in when needed to push you closer to the edge of your seat but otherwise simply lingers in the background. Exit 8 never becomes too dark but knows exactly how to use the darkness, to create the dangerous potential but keep a sense of humour and a relatability.
Of course, you couldn’t have those things without a sympathetic character to deliver them and that’s exactly what you get with Kazunari Ninomiya’s Lost Man. His performance is funny and kind, he’s vulnerable yet capable and really provides the perfect guide for Exit 8 because he’s so easy to follow and invest in. He’s supported by only three other actors that appear onscreen and they’re all great, but Naru Asanuma stands out in particular. For such a young actor, he has an incredibly mature, wise presence to add into the mix. The combination of Ninomiya and Asanuma is genuinely touching at times to watch.
The story allows them to explore parenthood and accountability in such a unique yet effective way. Kawamura and Hirase Kentaro do a wonderful job of making Exit 8 a thrilling puzzle but also layering in the emotional issues of each of the characters. The strength of the story is especially highlighted by how little backstory it needs to explore. We only get brief glimpses of the characters’ lives before the puzzle and yet it’s plenty.
Similar could be said of Kawamura’s directorial style, he doesn’t feel a need for all the extra flash or reliance on effects, it’s considered and purposeful. The atmosphere is filled with tension, there’s an excellent pacing, which is another impressive feat given how Exit 8 is going in circles. The progression of the story also works really well, it manages to repeat those cycles while still having plenty to add. Using those chapters is another element not a lot of filmmakers do well and yet it nicely accents the scenes here.
Exit 8 is a fantastic example of how to succeed in adapting a video game. It takes the concept and brings it to life in an enrapturing, entertaining and effortlessly fun way. The way that it holds your attention is superb, the performances are excellent, it’s shot exceptionally well to really build a balanced atmosphere to do justice to its mystery and its sense of humour. What any film like this really boils down to is: Is it a good time? And the answer here is unequivocally yes. It’s a thrilling ninety-five-minute ride, that also has a nice comment to make about how we walk through life, not to mention definitely being a very different take on ‘if you see something, say something’.
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