This Flat Japanese Psychological Horror Might've Been Nice If It Wasn't So Underwhelming

Psychological horrors are usually not solely meant to mess with the characters’ minds, but additionally make us take into consideration what they’re experiencing. Japanese horror Exit 8 barely will get there in that regard. Primarily based on the 2023 journey sport, The Exit 8, director Genki Kawamura, who co-wrote the script with Kentaro Hirase, places an unnamed character — known as solely The Misplaced Man (Kazunari Ninomiya) — in a hellishly repetitive cycle.

Whereas the teachings discovered — in regards to the embrace of change and the braveness to face up and communicate with out concern — are good, I’m afraid this horror movie loses itself within the throes of its chaos on account of a skinny and plodding plot. Earlier than The Misplaced Man goes on this journey — which begins on a subway and results in being caught in just a few curving hallways that ought to, if he follows the directions, result in Exit 8 — we be taught that his ex-girlfriend is pregnant. This drives his path ahead, haunting him as he makes an attempt to flee to freedom.

Exit 8’s Horror Is Good, However Its Story Does not Have A lot Depth

The movie’s horror parts are efficient, even sometimes unsettling. However there’s little attachment to the primary character regardless of the harrowing expertise he’s going via. Each cycle via the varied exits tends to vary, however not by all that a lot. The Strolling Man (Yamato Kochi) sweeps previous our protagonist; typically he simply retains it shifting, and different occasions he’s proper behind The Misplaced Man, smiling eerily. In the meantime, The Misplaced Man hears the cries of a child or will get a name from his ex (Nana Komatsu), however they’re not as efficient as they could possibly be emotionally.

Horror-wise, the movie is a slow-burn. There’s sufficient stress that it appears like we’re all the time ready for one thing to occur. Generally it and typically it doesn’t. The pacing is such that you just by no means actually know what’s going to crop up, and it retains us attentive, but it surely’s sluggish and repetitive sufficient for our funding to wane. The repetition is very daunting. Desert Road, a film a couple of lady who discovers she’s caught on one street and may’t escape it, shares similarities to Exit 8. Nonetheless, the previous was in a position to preserve issues contemporary regardless of the identical location and repeated moments.

…as a psychological horror, the movie falls flat.

The narrative briefly cuts to a few different characters, maybe meant to take a break from The Misplaced Man’s story, but it doesn’t supply a lot in the best way of engagement past being a pleasant break from the cycle of exit indicators and hallways. The horror’s greatest challenge is that its plot is barely there. It needs to discover themes of embracing change and duty, however we do not know The Misplaced Man sufficient earlier than he’s thrown into his distressing scenario.

As an alternative of giving his story room to breathe, the movie is much less involved about his plot than it’s about crafting the visible aesthetic of the horror. I want I might say this was an excellent psychological horror, but it surely lacks the depth that might have given it the correct momentum and gravitas. With out it, we’re simply watching The Misplaced Man endlessly and frustratingly wander via hallways.

It grows tedious as a result of it appears like we’re holding our breath ready for one thing extra important to occur for the lead’s character improvement, and but it stays largely stagnant. Exit 8 has a lot squandered potential. It may need made for a greater quick movie than a full characteristic, however as a psychological horror, the movie falls flat.

Exit 8 screened on the 2025 Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant.