Director Genki Kawamura has revealed that his new horror film, Exit 8, is inspired by the iconic sound of The Shining, particularly in the unsettling sound of Danny’s tricycle. Kawamura, who has expressed deep respect for Stanley Kubrick, has sought to incorporate that level of sound detail that breaks down the viewer. When [Danny] rides down the hallway on the tricycle, there is a difference in the sound it makes on the wood versus the carpet. I think that level of difference really moves us and puts us in a kind of mental corner, the director commented in an interview.
A video game that took everyone by surprise
The film follows a young man known as The Lost Man, played by Kazunari Ninomiya, who faces his fear of fatherhood upon discovering that his girlfriend is pregnant. Upon getting off the train, he finds himself trapped in an endlessly repeating corridor, where his only goal is to reach the exit, Exit 8. Throughout this journey, he encounters a boy, known as The Boy, who accompanies him in solving different puzzles that will lead him to the exit.
A highlighted aspect of the production of Exit 8 is its sound design, which features significant differences in the sounds of the characters’ shoes, symbolizing their nature, whether human or NPC (non-playable characters). Kawamura explained that auditions were held to select the shoes that would produce the most suitable sound for each character, demonstrating meticulous attention to detail in the production.
Exit 8 is scheduled to premiere in theaters on April 10 in the United States and April 24 in the United Kingdom. The film based on the indie video game of the same name promises a unique experience that explores themes of parenthood and fear in a haunting and thought-provoking way.
