I could never wear that many layers in the subway (CREDIT: NEON/Screenshot)

Starring: Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase, Nana Komatsu

Director: Genki Kawamura

Running Time: 95 Minutes

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: April 10, 2026 (Theaters)

Calling all M.C. Escher freaks!

In an era of slavishly faithful video game adaptations, Exit 8 might just be the most gamified version of cinema I’ve seen in quite some time, perhaps ever. That’s not meant to imply that it is particularly faithful to the game, since I’ve never played it and thus cannot speak to that. Nevertheless, the whole narrative is pretty much one big puzzle, as a reality-warping corridor in a Japanese subway station requires anyone in there to keep an eye out for anomalies in a couple of hallways. If everything is the same as the first time you walk through, then you’re all set to keep going. But if you notice any discrepancies, then you need to immediately turn back. Screw up just once, and you’re back to zero; follow directions successfully eight times in a row, and then you can re-enter the rest of the world through the titular exit.

So now that I’ve seen the movie, can I utilize its lessons to live a more fulfilling life, or merely to expertly play the video game? Probably just the latter, but I’ll hold out a bit of hope for the former just in case.

Grade: 6 8s out of 8