We're Not Excited Enough About This Ultra-Creepy Upcoming Japanese Horror Movie Adaptation

The new golden age of horror in Hollywood has given us some of the best original stories in decades, but the increasing ingenuity and audience expectations have spawned more high-quality movie adaptations as well. Horror games in particular are in the midst of a renaissance, with movie adaptations like Five Nights at Freddy's, Iron Lung, and Until Dawn getting wide releases (albeit with varying levels of quality).

The latest horror game adaptation to make waves is Genki Kawamura's Exit 8, a feature-length that was among the most popular movie releases in Japan in 2025. Based on the indie game of the same name, Exit 8 follows a man trapped in a seemingly never-ending subway tunnel who must spot various anomalies to unravel the mystery of how to escape.

Dripping with deep symbolism, Exit 8 preys upon the audience with its unsettling imagery and suffocating silence, placing viewers in an immersive experience that leaves them scouring the screen for clues just as its unnamed main character does. While the original concept is intriguing in its own right, there are some elements that should put this movie at the top of any horror movie fan's list for the spring.

Exit 8 Reportedly Remains Very Faithful To The Popular Game It's Based On

With many video game adaptations, horror and non-horror alike, the movie experience winds up underwhelming as many directors struggle to capture the elements that make the game enjoyable. The recent adaptation of Until Dawn is a good example—the game is based upon an intricate butterfly effect concept, which the movie traded in for a stripped-down time loop narrative that played as a string of unconnected horror scenes.

Critic and audience reports from 2025 screenings of Exit 8 indicate that Kawamura remains faithful to the central construct of its source material. By all accounts, Kawamura manages to replicate the experience of gameplay, complete with the occasional frustration of lack of progress. The dialogue-free game is based upon quiet and precise observation, and the director manages to translate that to the screen, steeped in sterile, deep-seated dread.

Exit 8 Received Rave Reviews Out Of Cannes In 2025

Faithfulness to source material is typically a positive for any game adaptation, but that doesn't always equate to the best movie experience. Fortunately, Kawamura reportedly managed to not only replicate the gameplay experience, but also deliver a gripping, claustrophobic horror movie.

While the narrative remains simple, critics who have seen the movie in Japan or during its festival circuit agree that Exit 8 builds legitimate suspense. The subtle psychological horror elements are punctuated with effective, well-earned scares all in an unnervingly simplistic visual aesthetic. Despite its straightforward premise, the movie reportedly remains unpredictable throughout, which should satisfy viewers whether they know the game or not.

As of now, Exit 8 boasts an exceptional 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, indicating verified critics almost universally recommend the movie. While that score may slip slightly as it releases in North America in April 2026, it seems destined for one of the stronger RT scores from what should be an exceptional slate of horror movies in 2026, following on the heels of one of the best years for modern horror in 2025.