An unlucky commuter finds himself trapped inside a seemingly endless subway passage in this psychological horror based on a popular video game. The unnamed protagonist exits his packed subway car after seeing a mother berated for failing to quieten her crying child. He receives a message from his ex-girlfriend informing him she is pregnant and asking what she should do with the child. Unexpectedly the man finds he is unable to exit the subway, as the passage seems to loop indefinately, continuously bringing him back to the Exit 0 sign. He then discovers a list of rules on the wall telling him he must look out for anomalies. If he sees something out of place he should turn back; if not, he can continue. He should leave at Exit 8. Slowly, the numbers begin to increase as he learns to spot anything unusual about the space, all the while wondering what it is and why he is trapped there.
“Exit 8”, directed by Genki Kawamura from a script by Kawamura and Kentaro Hirase, is a peculiar horror film based on an intriguing concept. Relying on the mundanity of cycling around an endless underground passageway the film will no doubt deter some due to the repetitive nature of the plot. The film makes the bold move of almost never cutting away from this Escher-like corridor and our protagonists Sisyphean attempts to escape. Kazunari Ninomiya brings some much-needed emotion and charisma to the main character; we feel his frustration growing as he searches for answers along the nondescript walls and increasingly familiar surroundings. Fans of the game will delight in the film’s faithful recreation of the corridor, although a few changes do exist, and the inclusion of elements drawn from the game. The film does deviate from the minimalist plot of the game, adding some backstory to our protagonist and fleshing out the character of the Walking Man (Yamato Kochi), whose endless circuit mirrors our protagonist’s own; alongside a young boy (Naru Asanuma) who plays a pivotal role; and a schoolgirl (Kotone Hanase) whose pointed reflection on the drudge of everyday life is as terrifying as the swarm of rats that appear later.
“Exit 8” plays on a particular Japanese fear of being stuck in the endless cycle of monotonous work, commute, work, commute, that typifies the salaryman lifestyle. Essentially robbing individuals of their free time and personality, they become mindless drones, unable to truly appreciate anything as they repeatedly carry out their duties. The film’s opening sequence is difficult to watch as most people would find themselves in the same quandary as the main character, ignoring obvious poor behaviour for a quiet life, alongside every other bystander. The trial of the tunnel seems designed for our protagonist to learn a lesson about calling out abnormal behaviour and being more observant and responsive to the world around him. The film also delves into Buddhist ideas of recurrance and rebirth, with each failure leading to reset, and progress a matter of strict adherence to the rules and continuous self-improvement alongside cultivating an acute perception of one’s environment. We never learn what the corridor is, or why these character end up there, but there is enough in the film for viewers to deduce what may be happening and draw meaning from. “Exit 8” does a great job at creating an eerie atmosphere and providing the viewer with a philosophical and psychological horror that reflects the increasing isolation in modern society.
