NEON Announces Theatrical Release Date For Thriller EXIT 8: “Neon announced today that it will be releasing its highly acclaimed Japanese thriller Exit 8 in theaters nationwide on April 10, 2026. Directed by celebrated up-and-coming filmmaker Genki Kawarmura, and based on the hugely popular video game of the same name, the film world-premiered in the midnight section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival where it received an 8 minute standing ovation. Subsequently it created much excitement when it screened at several top tier international festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, the Sitges Film Festival, the Busan International Film Festival. Right now, it is playing at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Exit 8 has received excellent reviews, currently ranking at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, and was a major hit in its native Japan, making approximately $27M USD upon its release last fall.
Genki Kawamura has produced numerous films including Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name and Mirai, Mamoru Hosoda’s Belle and Hirokazu Kore-Eda’s Monster. He won the Best Director Award for his directorial debut A Hundred Flowers (2022) at the 70th San Sebastián International Film Festival. He also wrote the 2012 worldwide bestseller If Cats Disappeared From The World which sold over 2 million copies in 32 countries. Exit 8 is the second film he’s directed.Based on the global hit eponymous video game created by Kotake Create, the movie follows a man (Kazunari Ninomiya) trapped in an endless sterile subway passageway as he sets out to find Exit 8. The rules of his quest are simple: do not overlook anything out of the ordinary. If you discover an anomaly, turn back immediately. If you don’t, carry on. Then leave from Exit 8. But even a single oversight will send him back to the beginning. Will he ever reach his goal and escape this infinite corridor?
The film stars Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase and Nana Komatsu. It is written by Genki Kawarmura and Kentaro Hirase. The producers are Yuto Sakata, Kenji Yamada, Akita Yamamoto, and Taichi Ito.”
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CHIWETEL EJIOFOR CAST IN MIKE FLANAGAN’S THE EXORCIST: “Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, Children of Men) reunites with director Mike Flanagan in The Exorcist, following their recent collaboration on The Life of Chuck, which won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film is produced by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and Morgan Creek Entertainment for Universal Pictures. Ejiofor joins Scarlett Johansson, Jacobi Jupe, and Diane Lane, who were previously announced.
The film will be released theatrically on Friday, March 12, 2027, and is set to shoot in New York City.
The film will tell an all-new story set in The Exorcist universe and is not a sequel to 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer. It is produced by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, Morgan Creek Entertainment and Flanagan, who will also write and direct via his Red Room Pictures banner. Alexandra Magistro will also executive produce for Red Room Pictures. David Robinson produces for Morgan Creek Entertainment. Jason Blum and Ryan Turek serve as producer and executive producer, respectively, for Blumhouse-Atomic Monster.
From revolutionary writer-director Mike Flanagan – revered creator of the acclaimed series The Fall of the House of Usher, Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House and the groundbreaking films The Life of Chuck (TIFF Audience Award Winner), Oculus, Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game – comes a radical new vision of the most terrifying title in the history of cinematic horror.”
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Monster Forge Productions Announces Three New Epic Adventures for Young Readers: “Monster Forge Productions is thrilled to unveil a trio of imaginative new children’s books from acclaimed writer and animation veteran Shannon Eric Denton, each brought to life by extraordinary illustrators whose work elevates these monster-filled worlds with energy, emotion, and irresistible charm. From eerie Halloween atmospheres to whimsical kaiju chaos to sweeping fantasy landscapes, these books celebrate courage, identity, and the art of storytelling through unforgettable visuals.
GhostBoy and the Monsters of Haunted Hill
A Chillingly Uplifting Halloween Tale
Written by Shannon Eric Denton • Illustrated by Drew Rausch
Just in time for Halloween, GhostBoy and the Monsters of Haunted Hill follows a nameless young ghost who awakens in a mysterious forest filled with lost souls, lurking creatures, and secrets waiting to be uncovered. Illustrator Drew Rausch infuses every page with his signature spooky-cute aesthetic—glowing jack-o’-lanterns, swirling fog, and expressive monsters—creating a haunting yet heartwarming visual journey.
The book pairs Denton’s evocative narrative with Rausch’s masterful ability to balance eerie atmosphere with emotional warmth, resulting in a picture book that is as beautiful as it is meaningful. Perfect for all ages, it explores themes of courage, empathy, and remembering who you are.
Isle of Monsters and the Little Kaiju’s BIG Adventure
A Kaiju Adventure for All
Written by Shannon Eric Denton • Illustrated by Chris Gugliotti
Isle of Monsters introduces readers to a small kaiju navigating a world of gigantic island monsters. Illustrator Chris Gugliotti delivers bold, dynamic artwork bursting with personality, humor, and heart. His expressive character designs bring the island’s massive inhabitants—and its tiny hero—to life with a cinematic sense of scale and vibrant fun.
Gugliotti’s charming visual storytelling perfectly complements this tale about belonging, bravery, and embracing who you are—especially when you feel small in a world full of giants.
Monster Knight and the Talisman of Shadows
A Thrilling New Children’s Fantasy
Written by Shannon Eric Denton • Illustrated by Thomas Boatwright
In Monster Knight and the Talisman of Shadows, readers journey through the shadowy realm of Blackpyre with Glomm, a monster who becomes a Knight Wizard against all odds. Illustrator Thomas Boatwright crafts a mesmerizing fantasy world teeming with magical energy, eerie landscapes, and unforgettable creatures. His distinctive style blends dark whimsy with epic adventure, giving the story a striking visual identity that deepens every twist of the journey.
From haunted forests to acid rivers, Boatwright’s illustrations immerse readers in a world as rich and imaginative as the tale itself—perfect for fans of fantasy, monsters, and heroic quests.
Together, these books showcase Shannon Eric Denton’s signature blend of heart and adventure while spotlighting the incredible talents of Drew Rausch, Chris Gugliotti, and Thomas Boatwright—three artists who transform monster stories into vivid, unforgettable experiences.“
To learn more and support this campaign, visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/monsterforge/monster-forges-monsterknight-ghostboy-isle-of-monsters
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THE STRANGERS – CHAPTER 3: 3K Survival Run
Synopsis: In the final film of The Strangers trilogy, Maya (Madelaine Petsch) faces the masked killers one last time in a brutal, full-circle reckoning of survival and revenge.
Directed by: Renny Harlin
Written by: Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland
Based on Characters Created by: Bryan Bertino
Produced by: Courtney Solomon, Mark Canton, Gary Raskin, Alastair Burlingham, Charlie Dombek
Cast: Madelaine Petsch, Gabriel Basso, Ema Horvath
Lionsgate presents, a Fifth Element production, in association with Stream Media and Sherborne Media.
Genre: Horror
Rating: This film is not yet rated
U.S. Release Date: February 6, 2026
Official Site: https://thestrangers.movie/