Movie Review 'The Exit 8' (No Spoilers)

 

Returning to the Theater After Years

It’s been a long time since I last went to the movies. The last film I saw in a theater was the Thai horror movie The Medium (“Rang Zong”) several years ago. Ever since, I’ve preferred watching Netflix at home — it’s just more comfortable.

But when I saw the trailer for The Exit 8, curiosity got the better of me, and I finally decided to step back into a cinema after years.

A Small Neighborhood Cinema

The theater I visited is a small, local cinema near my home. I drove through the parking lot entrance shared with nearby shops, a gym, and a few restaurants. It’s one of those cozy spots where you can tell the community has slowed down a bit in recent years.

Quiet Weekend Atmosphere

Ten years ago, movie theaters were always crowded on weekends. Tickets for popular movies would sell out fast, and same-day reservations were almost impossible.

However, when I visited at noon on a Saturday, the place was surprisingly empty. Even though the parking lot is shared with restaurants and gyms, there were plenty of open spots.

Almost a Private Screening

At 12 p.m. on a Saturday, my husband and I were the only two people in the theater. Three employees were behind the snack counter, and about ten more people came later as family groups.

Still, for a cinema with six screening rooms, that’s a very small audience — almost like a private showing.

Popcorn, Latte, and a Quiet Wait

We ordered popcorn and a café latte. Since we had about 30 minutes before the movie started, we just sat quietly, enjoying the snacks and the calm atmosphere.

Sometimes, that quiet anticipation before a film is part of the charm of going to the movies.

Only Five People for “The Exit 8”

They let us into the theater about ten minutes before the show. Even though it was a Saturday, only five people watched The Exit 8 — my husband, me, and three strangers.

The positive side? It was incredibly peaceful, and we could focus completely on the movie.

Game to Film: How “The Exit 8” Works

The Exit 8 is based on an indie game that was released on multiple platforms such as PC, Nintendo, and PlayStation. The original game was created by a single Japanese developer.

The gameplay is simple: find Exit 8 and escape from an endlessly looping underground corridor. There’s no complicated story — just repetition, tension, and atmosphere.

I’ve played the game myself, and even though the rules are simple, it’s oddly addictive.

The movie keeps the same eerie setting but adds new characters and a storyline. As someone who knows the game, I wondered how they would turn such a minimalist concept into a full-length film.

Surprisingly, it worked better than I expected.

That said, viewers unfamiliar with the game might not feel the same impact. While the movie is labeled as horror, it’s not particularly scary, and the plot isn’t as strong as major horror films.

To be honest, it felt like a commercial film leaning heavily on the game’s popularity.

Final Thoughts — Worth Watching?

Still, watching it in a theater made a difference. If I had watched it on Netflix, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much. The quiet atmosphere of the cinema made it easier to focus and enjoy the story.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was a satisfying return to the big screen after such a long time.

⭐ Verdict:

A calm, nostalgic theater experience and a creative take on a minimalist indie game — worth watching once, especially for fans of the original game.

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