The Exit 8 Film Adaptation: A Different Twist
Alright, so get this – instead of the usual big-budget game adaptations like Minecraft or Super Mario Bros, we’ve got a movie based on a $4 walking simulator game that takes a mere 25 minutes to complete. Surprisingly, from what we see in the trailer, this adaptation seems to stay pretty true to the original game, unlike most other game-to-movie transitions out there.
The movie and the game go by the name of The Exit 8, and both revolve around a backrooms concept. In the game created by Kotake Create, you navigate through a Tokyo subway station corridor, aiming to locate the exit. To your left, you’ll spot some framed posters, while a couple of doors are on your right, and fluorescent lights hang overhead. As you reach the end of the corridor and make a few turns, you find yourself back in that same corridor. But it’s not exactly the same – there’s always some subtle change: a missing door, an inverted exit sign, or a different tile pattern. Sometimes, everything remains unchanged.
The basic rule displayed on the tunnel wall is simple: if you notice a change (referred to as anomalies), turn around and retrace your steps. If everything appears normal, keep moving forward. You need to make the correct choice eight times in a row to reach the exit and escape the tunnel. Make a mistake, and you’ll have to start over. The Exit 8 combines elements of the backrooms and spot-the-difference games, delivering a truly unsettling experience. Some anomalies are downright eerie, and to make things more nerve-wracking, you’re not the only one down there. A stranger with a briefcase walks through the corridor in the opposite direction, mostly ignoring you.
Director Genki Kawamura has added a storyline to the movie, involving the protagonist receiving life-altering news over the phone just before getting trapped in the looping tunnel. We also see a child accompanying the main character in some scenes from the trailer, a departure from the solitary journey in the game. The game’s most challenging part comes when there appear to be no anomalies, leading players to question everything. As one Steam reviewer aptly puts it, playing The Exit 8 feels like being gaslit for an hour. It’s all quite intriguing to see if the movie can capture that same sense of self-doubt.
The Exit 8 movie will be showcased at Festival de Cannes this month and hit theaters in August. Meanwhile, the game is available on Steam for those brave enough to take on the challenge. Check out the game trailer below to compare it with the movie trailer above. Both trailers definitely give off a creepy vibe that’s hard to shake.