Upcoming Japanese Horror Movie Scores Stunning 97% on Rotten Tomatoes

TLDR: The horror thriller from director Genki Kawamura premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival to an 8-minute standing ovation and has earned a near-perfect 97% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes from 37 reviews.

Exit 8’s Box Office Success in Japan

Exit 8 has already proven commercially successful in its home country, grossing $27 million during its Japanese theatrical run. The film also screened at several major international film festivals following its Cannes debut.

Based on Popular Indie Game

The 95-minute film adapts the video game The Exit 8 by Kotake Create, following a man trapped in a maze of subway tunnels searching for Exit 8. The premise: don’t overlook anything, and turn away from anything strange.

The cast includes Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase, and Nana Komatsu.

Critical Reception Mixed with Audiences

While critics have embraced the film, audience reception has been more measured with a 73% Rotten Tomatoes score, suggesting potential divisiveness.

ScreenRant’s Mae Abdulbaki noted the film “loses itself in the throes of its chaos due to a thin and plodding plot,” while Flicks’ Steve Newall praised it as replicating “the experience and frustration of gaming” unlike any previous video game adaptation.

Source: ScreenRant