Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Excellent, twisty, scary, moving subway-puzzle thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
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Where to Watch
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Exit 8
What's the Story?
In EXIT 8, an unnamed man (Kazunari Ninomiya) is riding the subway. He witnesses another man shouting at a woman for bringing a crying baby on the train, but he chooses to ignore the altercation. He gets off and receives a call from his ex-girlfriend (Nana Komatsu), who tells him that she's pregnant. The man says that he'll come to her to decide what to do. But as he tries to leave the station, he suddenly finds himself in a strange loop, with the same four hallways repeating and no exit apparent. As he turns the first corner, another man (Yamato Kôchi) carrying a suitcase moves by but does not acknowledge the first, now lost man. After a few times around, the lost man discovers "the rules" posted on a wall. If he sees an anomaly, he must move backward. If there is no anomaly, he may move forward. He must successfully complete the test eight times, but each mistake resets the counter to zero. And the puzzle is harder than it looks.
Is It Any Good?
This chilling, endlessly clever, and surprisingly moving puzzler literally has amazements around every corner, using different approaches for its character-based shock and disquiet. Made in Japan and distributed there by Toho (known for Godzilla, Seven Samurai, and many others), Exit 8 is a truly unforgettable experience that will certainly invite multiple viewings; it's an entirely contained, intertwined story with no extraneous moments and a great ending. Director Genki Kawamura starts things well, with an unbroken POV shot that introduces viewers to the main character, who's known only as The Lost Man. We can't initially see his face, but we already get an idea of who he is, and we identify with his sad demeanor: He's on his way to a temp job, carrying a lumpy backpack from which he can never find his inhaler, and he drowns out the subway noises with Ravel's "Bolero."
Things open up when he arrives at the puzzle, but even that seems designed to reveal more about the characters, who also include The Walking Man, The High School Girl, The Boy, and The Woman. The puzzles range from deceptively simple to bizarre, and the scary stuff ranges from jump scares and shocking images to truly horrific, nail-biting moments. It's impressive that this excellent movie was based on a video game and that the filmmakers were able to turn it into something so cinematic—and so human. Exit 8 is a treasure for fans of the unique and unusual.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Exit 8's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What do you think the movie is really about? Do you think there's one "correct" explanation?
One of the movie's themes is parenthood. How do people know whether or not they're ready to have children? What does it mean to be a "good" parent?
Have you ever been in a situation where noticing something small made a big difference? Why is observation such an important skill?
Are you OK with not knowing how or why this story happened? Or would you prefer to have a rational explanation? Why?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 10, 2026
- Cast : Kazunari Ninomiya , Yamato Kochi , Nana Komatsu
- Director : Genki Kawamura
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Japanese Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Japanese Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Neon
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Competition , Fantasy ( Magic )
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some bloody images and terror
- Last updated : April 19, 2026
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