This Flat Japanese Psychological Horror Could’ve been Great If it Wasn’t SO Underwhelming


Psychological horrors are not only meant to mes with the characters’ minds, but also make us think about what they’re experienceencing. Horror Japanese Exit 8 Barely Gets there in that Regard. Based on the 2023 Adventure Game, The Exit 8Director Genki Kawamura, Who Co-Wrote the script with Kotaro Hirase, Puts an Unnaamed Character-Called Only The Lost Man (Kazunari ninomiya)-in a hellishly reapitive cycle.

While the lessons learned – About the embrace of Change and the Courage to stand up and speak with the fear – are good, i’m afraid this horror loises itelf in the throes of its chaos and plodding full. Before the lost man goes on this journey-which begins on a subway and leads to being stack in a few curving halways should, if he follows the instructions, Lead to exit 8-We learn that his ex-girlfriend is pregnant. This Drive HIS PATH FORWARD, HAUNING HIM AS ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE TO FRIEDOM.

Exit 8’s horror is good, but its Story doesn’t have much depth

The film’s horror elements are effective, tan occsionally unsettling. But there’s the Little Attachment to the Main Character Despite the Harrowing Experience He’s Going Through. Every cycle through the various exits tendes to change, but not by all that much. The Walking Man (Yamato Kochi) Sweeps past Our protagonist; Sometimes he just keep it -off, and Other Times and Right Being the Lost Man, Smiling Eerily. Meanwhile, The Lost Man Hears the Cries of a Baby or Gets a Call from His Ex (Nana Komatsu), but they’re not as effective as they are emotionally.

Horror-Wise, the film is a Slow-Burn. There’s Enough tension that it Feels like we’re always waking for something to happy. SOMETIMES IT AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN’T. The pacing is Such that you never really know what Will crop up, and it keeps us attentive, but it is sluggish and reapitive enough for our investment. The repetition is especally Daunting. Desert RoadA Movie About A Woman Who Discovers She’s Stuck on One Road and Can’t Escape It, Shares Similaties to Exit 8. Howver, The Form was able to kep things Fresh Despite the Same Location and Repeated Moments.

… nor a Psychological horror, the film Falls Flat.

The narrative briefly cuts to a couple of other characters, spreads intense to take a break from the Lost Man’s, yet it doesn’t offering in the way of Engagement Being Being A nice from the cycle of exit and hallways. The Horror’s Biggest Issue is that its full is Barely there. It wants to explore themes of embrace Change and Responsibility, but we don’t know the lost man Enough before it is thrown into his distressing situation.

Instead of giving his story room to breathe, the film is lessoned about it is full of it is about crafting the visual aesthetic of the horror. I WISH I COULD SAY THIS WAS A GREAT Psychological horror, but it Lacks the depth that would have gioven it is the protper momentum and gravitas. Without it, we’re just watching the lost man endlessly and frustratingly Wander Through Hallways.

It Grows Tedious Becuses It Feels Like We’re Holding Our Breath Waiting for More Significant to Happen for Lead’s Character Development, and Yet It Remains Large Stagnant. Exit 8 Has so much squandered potential. IT MIGHT HAVE MADE FOR A BETTER SHORT FILM THAN A full featuree, but as a psychological horror, the movie Falls Flat.

Exit 8 Screened at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

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Release Date
August 29, 2025

Runtime
95 minutes

Directory
Genki Kawamura

Wriers
Genki Kawamura, Kotaro Hirase

  • CAST PLACEHOLDER Image

    Ninomiya casinari

    The lost man

  • CAST PLACEHOLDER Image

    Yamato Kochi

    The walking man


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