The Exit 8 is a short, eerie game inspired by the backrooms concept from 2023, which has now made its leap to film. Instead of adapting popular blockbusters like Minecraft or Super Mario Bros, the film takes a chance on this intriguing $4 walking simulator that can be completed in approximately 25 minutes.

Both the game and its movie counterpart revolve around a backrooms-style experience. In The Exit 8, developed by the Japanese studio Kotake Create, players traverse a seemingly endless Tokyo subway corridor in search of an exit. The corridor is filled with framed posters, doors, and stark fluorescent lighting. Walking to the corridor’s end results in the peculiar phenomenon of returning to the same corridor yet again.

However, the twist lies in the fact that sometimes details within the corridor change: perhaps a door disappears or an exit sign is turned upside down. Only by recognizing these alterations can players escape the loop.

The Exit 8 challenges players with rules posted on the tunnel walls: if an anomaly is detected, they must retrace their steps. If no anomaly is present, they may continue straight ahead. Completing the loop requires players to correctly identify anomalies eight times. Failure signifies a reset to the beginning.

Beyond the unsettling gameplay, the film adaptation by director Genki Kawamura introduces further character development, including a significant phone call that sets the protagonist into motion. A child appears in several scenes, marking a departure from the game, which features an entirely solitary experience.

The film is expected to be showcased at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival and is scheduled for release in August. For a comparison of both mediums, trailers for each are provided for viewing.