5 Reasons to Watch "Exit 8" — The Horror Film Being Called the New "The Shining"

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Horror film "Exit 8" has hit cinemas — an adaptation of the cult indie game that's already being compared to Kubrick's "The Shining." This time, terror doesn't emerge from the Overlook Hotel, but from the endless passages of the Tokyo subway system.

The main character walks through the same corridor over and over again and must find the only correct path to salvation.

Here are 5 reasons to watch this fall's most terrifying horror:

Atmosphere that gives you chills

The subway labyrinths in the film are shot in a way that literally gives viewers a sense of claustrophobia. Endless corridors, identical walls, and the feeling that you've seen this place before make everything maximally unsettling. After watching, going into the subway will never be the same.

A puzzle-plot

The story revolves around an unnamed man (Kazunari Ninomiya) who's trapped in a space-time loop. The rules are simple: if you notice something unusual — turn back, if everything's the same — keep going.
Exit 8 movie trailer
Making a mistake means returning to the beginning. Viewers are in for an hour-and-a-half journey where every little detail could be deadly important.

An adaptation of a game that became legendary

"Exit 8" is one of the most talked-about indie games in recent years. It was born from creepypasta and "liminal spaces," and now it's made its way to the big screen.

The creators preserved key details: white checkered walls, posters on them, the mysterious bald man with a briefcase, and moments when reality suddenly glitches.

Not just fear, but metaphor

Director Genki Kawamura (creator of "100 Flowers" and "Duality") transformed the game into not just horror, but a story about personal responsibility.

The storyline with the protagonist's pregnant girlfriend adds symbolism: the corridor becomes a metaphor for existential deadlock, where choices have consequences for the future.
Man in white shirt holding a phone, with a poster on the right showing a man's face against a yellow background
Exit 8 movie poster and frame
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Critics' reaction

Journalists note that Kawamura managed to turn a minimalist game into cohesive cinema with an atmosphere of anxiety, vivid symbols, and an unusual finale.

InSession Film calls the movie one of the best horrors of the year. Others call it one of the rare cases where a game adaptation actually works on the big screen.
"Exit 8" is a smart and inventive project that makes the most of minimalism. It's a breath of fresh air in an industry that seems to be experiencing a creative surge in recent years.
Film critic Panos Kotsanis from "Asian Movie Pulse"
Exit 8 isn't just a scary movie — it's an immersion into someone else's nightmare, where every decision could be your last. If Kubrick's "The Shining" made hotel corridors a symbol of horror, now Tokyo's subway is trying on that title. Earlier, we at zoomboola.com told you why you should watch "The Thursday Murder Club" — the coziest film of 2025.