Kotone Hanase

Exit 8 (2025): A Subway Snooze

Posted on by Jack Drees

© Neon

“Exit 8” is directed by Genki Kawamura (A Hundred Flowers, Duality) and stars Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters from Iwo Jima, Assassination Classroom), Yamato Kochi (Vivant, Brothers in Arms), Naru Asanuma (A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You, The Night After the Divorce), Kotone Hanase (Suzume, The Parades), and Nana Komatsu (Silence, The World of Kanako). This film follows a man who finds himself trapped in a subway station and must complete a puzzling mission in order to escape.

Turns out “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is not the only film coming out in April that is based on a video game, because “Exit 8” just so happens to originate from the same medium. The two games, and by extension, films, are quite different. “Mario” is much more family-friendly and adventurous, while “Exit 8” takes a more intimate and scarier route. The differences also happen to extend to my relationship with the games. While I have played many of “Mario’s” titles from different eras, I have not once sat down and played “The Exit 8.” To be fair though, the game is a somewhat recent indie title and way less popular than “Mario.”

Although my ability to enjoy a film should not be factored by how popular or recognizable the concept happens to be. As a wise woman from an ESurance commercial once said, “That’s not how it works. That’s not how any of this works.” Speaking of not working, I wish that were not the case for this movie, because it is one of the biggest bores I have seen all year.

I am not going to deny that “Exit 8” has potential. In fact, once I heard the concept, it gave me a weird sense of nostalgia. I am at the point now that I drive to work, partially due to the public transit in Boston not running overnight. But when I was in college, I took public transit everywhere, including the subway. As someone who has taken the subway so frequently, I appreciate the filmmakers’ intentions to make the concept scary. Because when I was taking it in Boston, it sometimes was. You are riding a germ-infested car with a bunch of strangers that sometimes squeaks like there is no tomorrow. Shoutout to the Green Line for reminding me of why I hate having sensitive ears, especially when it stops at Boylston and Government Center.

This movie, to my lack of surprise, dives into some common annoyances of riding the subway. The crowds… The occasional lack of cell service… The noise… The film starts in a clever way by showing the world through the protagonist’s eyes and ears. We see him riding the subway, and when he has his headphones off, he hears a baby crying, he does nothing about it. Though someone else, who is fed up with the noise, is telling the mother how annoyed he is. Of course, there is nothing the baby can do about it, and the mother, who has way more tact than she should, apologizes to the irritated rider.

The movie sometimes succeeds when it comes to atmosphere. The subway, despite extending quite far, does feel kind of otherworldly between the loud trains, strange halls, and depending on the case, large crowds. This movie occasionally goes beyond the everyday eeriness of the subway by implementing unusual characters, chilling sound effects, and some occasionally spooky effects. There is one moment involving eyes on posters that I will remember for some time.

That said, this movie becomes dull very easily. In a way, I almost felt as trapped as this film’s own protagonist. The film does a good job at showing how much the protagonist learns in a specific period of time, but it does not change the fact that the film feels as repetitive as can be. I think this could have been paced a lot better as a short film rather than a feature. There is a decent movie in here somewhere between the suspense and immersion factors, but very rarely did I find the story intriguing or the scares all that horrifying. When I watch a horror movie and I am not scared, that is a problem.

In fact, after watching this movie, I was searching its Wikipedia page, and I found out that the director, Genki Kawamura, ended up cutting a scene that he deemed too scary to show. I really want to see that scene now. At best, this movie is mildly eerie, but I cannot name a single moment during the runtime that had me pacing a just a little. I hate saying this, especially as someone who has taken the subway on a regular basis, so I have come across my share of interesting characters and sights. Although the more I think about it, I wonder if that is part of why I am not so scared by this movie. I have taken the subway so regularly back in the day, and I still take it sometimes today, to the point where what could have once been strange is now familiar or expected.

Granted, while this film does ground itself when it comes to showcasing the horrors of the subway, it also tries to blend in some more fantastical elements as well. I am not saying those could not have worked, but I do wish they were improved.

Also, I have no idea how many other people are going to complain about this, but the dialogue in this film irked me. I could only hear The Lost Man (Ninomaya) repeat the same things over and over so many times. I get that repeating his words is perhaps his way of understanding his surroundings, but as a viewer, it only makes every scene featuring said character feel almost the same as the last. If there is any variety to be found, it feels scarce. I found myself surprisingly frustrated with this character’s progression as he tries to escape.

“Exit 8” is kind of like “Groundhog Day” or “Edge of Tomorrow” as we constantly see the Lost Man doing the same things over and over and trying to complete a major task in the process. Maybe the movie was trying its best to suck me into the atmosphere of the subway, but if anything I found myself more annoyed that I had to go through various parts of the movie in real time. Or in this movie’s case, as real as time can be in its specific context. On the other hand, “Edge of Tomorrow” will sometimes trim out the fat while not removing anything essential from the story. If I found “Exit 8’s” short list of characters more intriguing, this would be moot. But I did not, so here I am, complaining like a madman. I wish I cared more about the Lost Man’s personal dilemma regarding his love interest. I wish I cared more about the Boy. I wish I cared more about everyone in this movie. Unfortunately, however, I cared so little to the point where I cannot see myself watching this movie ever again.

In the end, I am surprised to say this… If I were to recommend a video game-based movie to watch in theaters right now, I would shockingly pick “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” Yes, I have complaints with the movie, but I feel like it did a slightly better job at accomplishing its goals, even with a lack of story. “Exit 8” has a story, but I cannot say it is the best story. Despite being a horror flick, I found nothing about it that scary. I did find it atmospheric. It did remind me of times when I would walk through long subway tunnels or find myself in a sea of people on the Orange Line riding through Boston. The acting is not bad either. I have no problem with the cast, but I wish they were given superior material to work with. I am probably in the minority when it comes to my opinion. Both critics and audiences seem to be raving about the film over on Rotten Tomatoes. This film is not a complete trainwreck, but if I were ever presented with the opportunity to watch “Exit 8” a second time, I could see myself going to the next stop. I am going to give “Exit 8” a 4/10.

“Exit 8” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! Special reminder that my next episode of Movie Requests drops Monday, May 4th! That is Star Wars Day! Therefore, it is only fitting that Katee Sackhoff, known for her work as Bo-Katan Kryze, will end up being the guest of the next episode! You can catch the episode here on Flicknerd.com, or you can subscribe to my YouTube channel to see it as soon as possible!

And if you want to check out my last episode of Movie Requests featuring “Avatar” actor Joel David Moore, you can click the link above and watch it for yourself. If you enjoy the video, leave a like! It helps me out!

My next review is going to be for “Normal.” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Lorne” and “Michael,” which sounds like a gigantic missed opportunity to form the next “Barbenheimer.” LORNE MICHAEL! Come on, guys! If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Exit 8?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite movie involving trains? If it is not “Spider-Man 2,” we need to talk. Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Suzume (2022): Makoto Shinkai Goes Full Pixar with His Latest Anime

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Suzume,” otherwise known as “Suzume no Tojimari,” is directed by Makoto Shinkai (Your Name, Weathering with You) and stars Nanoka Hara, Hokuto Matsumura, Eri Fukatsu, Shota Sometani, Sairi Ito, Kotone Hanase, Kana Hanazawa, and Matsumoto Hakuō II. This film is about a teenage girl who finds out she must save Japan from various threats by locking a set of doors.

If there is one door that has opened for me in 2022, it is the one that unveils the vast world of anime. When the year started, I did my first anime review, “Belle,” which has now become one of my favorite films of all time regardless of the genre or medium. Since then I have watched other titles such as those from the Studio Ghibli collection, “Akira,” “In This Corner of the World,” and “Inu-Oh,” the last of which I have reviewed. I have not touched much in the television realm, such as the “Dragon Ball” franchise, but that is partially because I am usually more committed to film than television regardless of the genre. Anime has also introduced me to some notable filmmakers such as Hayao Miyazaki, Mamoru Hosoda, and the one of focus in this review, Makoto Shinkai.

In just a short amount of time, a couple of anime titles have risen to the top of my all time favorite films list. The recently mentioned “Belle” is an example, but when it comes to Makoto Shinkai, “Your Name” is another. The chemistry between the two main characters, which is unlike many other films in history, is executed with utter brilliance. It is beautifully animated, fantastically written, and ends on the perfect note. It shows the power of animation at its finest. It is easy to see why the film has become one of the most successful anime titles of all time, making $382 million worldwide. “Suzume” is having similar success. The film has raked in $221 million worldwide and has already passed his last film, “Weathering with You,” even this early into the official U.S. release.

But just because something is successful, does not always make it great. Look at “Jurassic World: Dominion” for example. Is “Suzume” for starters, worth the hype? And also, worth showering with tons of box office revenue?

To answer both of those questions, that is a paramount certainty.

After seeing “John Wick: Chapter 4” and now “Suzume,” I can declare spring 2023 is a great time to go the movies.

“Suzume” is just about everything I wanted and more. It is a beautifully animated triumph of a picture that does everything a movie is supposed to do. The last movie I reviewed, also an animation, specifically “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” could arguably have placed itself in the same boat. But when I say that, I mean it did the bare minimum to “not suck.” If this were a classroom, “Suzume” is the one student that studies hard, earns extra credit, always raises their hand, and dresses exquisitely as a bonus.

Now that we are in 2023, good animation has basically become a requirement. Thankfully, “Suzume” has unbelievably superb animation. Much like Shinkai’s other films, “Suzume” has this gloss to it that I can only find in one of his features. The colors are out of this world and the palette is both lifelike and imaginative at the same time. This is a film that having seen it, I could never see working in live-action without a couple significant changes.

“Suzume” reminds me of some of the better Pixar movies, because Pixar has a tendency to make films, many of which are phenomenal, where it begs to ask what would happen if certain objects or concepts had emotions. Sure, giving emotions to or personifying things in animation is not unusual. But when it comes to Pixar, it stands out because of the way they go about it. They gave toys emotions. They gave cars emotions. They gave preexisting souls emotions. They gave robots emotions. They gave literal emotions emotions. And this idea has worked every time. I am amazed on how Pixar was able to make a movie centering around a couple of robots and give them more emotional attachment than many films putting PEOPLE in the spotlight that have come out during the past decade. Similarly, the power of “Suzume” was unveiled as soon as I found out how much I cared about a chair. Granted, the chair is also human, but still. The movie made me care about a chair and got me attached to a cat who happens to be a statue. Despite the chair being human, it begs the question… What if chairs had emotions? This movie is the result.

As for the characters, I liked all of them. Sota, who becomes the chair, served well as a prominent sidekick. Daijin, the cat, is utilized perfectly. His lack of dimension, which is usually a deterrent for many characters, actually serves as a benefit with how his lines are delivered. Every moment he was on screen stood out to me. Suzume’s aunt, Tamaki, is perfectly written and executed. I believed every line out of this woman.

As for Suzume herself, I thought she was a great centerpiece to the story. When it comes to her as a main protagonist, she definitely served her purpose. I have no real complaints about the character that had to do with her charm or screen presence. If anything, I loved her ability to stay motivated throughout the film’s progression. Overall, I thought she was a joy to watch. But if I have anything negative to say, it would be this. Despite Suzume’s backstory being fleshed out, my one complaint is that I do not know a ton about her interests or what she does. Yes, she goes to school and has friends, but there is not much about her that separates her in the grand scheme of things. When it comes to Suzume’s depth, we get perhaps somewhere above the bare minimum. Although the movie managed to make a compelling aspect within the story out of the notion that she lost her mom and is raised by her aunt. Therefore, given the film’s significant fleshing out of that aspect, I can forgive the slight lack of personality even though it is an issue the more I think about it.

Despite what I said about Suzume not being fleshed out, one thing I thought was finely detailed throughout the film was Sota and his job, if you will, of being a closer. This film is about closing doors to prevent disasters. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that Sota calls himself a “closer.” It does not pay the bills, but the movie implies it is important. I like how they gave the occupation of sorts a backstory, it brought some intriguing depth to the table.

When I say I can forgive this movie for its flaws, I mean it. It is perfectly paced. The film clocks in just over 2 hours and not once was I bored. I was smiling the whole time. The first ten minutes of this movie are some of the best I have seen in animation. While this film may not be as good as “Your Name,” the titles rival each other from a technical perspective. The animation style is almost comes off as a lifelike video game. The sound design is hypnotizing. The score is outstanding. Kazuma Jinnouchi and RADWIMPS did such a banger job with all of the music. I can personally claim I have listened to some of it during the making of this review. This movie is such a technical behemoth that the minor story flaws honestly take a bit of a backseat. “Suzume” is a must see for Shinkai loyalists and newcomers alike.

In the end, Makoto Shinkai continues his hot streak. Between “Your Name,” “Weathering with You,” and now this banger of a film, “Suzume” is every bit as awe-inspiring and excellent as I hoped it would be. With this film now in the can, this affirms Shinkai’s status as one of my favorite directors working today. I cannot wait to see what he does next. “Suzume” is beautiful, original, and occasionally jaw-dropping. The characters are great. The animation is some of the best in recent memory alongside “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” If it is playing in theaters near you, see it on the biggest screen you can. I saw it in IMAX and it was worth it. I left “Suzume” feeling satisfied. That is how I would want to feel after every movie I end up seeing. Again, it is no “Your Name,” but it comes close. Therefore, I would have to give “Suzume” a 9/10.

“Suzume” is now playing in theaters everywhere. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! This week I will be watching the brand new movie “Air,” starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Also stay tuned for my review for “Super Mario Bros.,” the 1993 film, coming sometime soon. If you want to see this and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Suzume?” What did you think about it? Or, did you watch any of Makoto Shinkai’s other films? If you have a favorite, list it! I already mentioned this film, “Your Name,” “Weathering with You,” but if I must throw something out, I also saw “The Place Promised in Our Early Days,” which I would recommend. Check it out. Scene Before is your click to the flicks!