I recently watched Funny Games (1997), and what really stood out to me was how realistic it felt. Interestingly, the remote control scene and the fourth wall breaks—while not part of the “actual” events—ended up highlighting just how grounded the rest of the film was. It even made me think that a truly realistic horror movie might end up being almost boring.
That said, realism is exactly what I’m looking for.
The House That Jack Built felt very realistic to me for most of its runtime, at least up until the ending. I’d also put The Seasoning House, The Devil’s Bath, The Coffee Table, and even Grotesque (again, aside from the more over-the-top ending) in a similar category.
On the flip side, movies like Longlegs, The Cleansing Hour, and Hokum (>!if the witch drags her victims to the den of witches then why was the bartender in the belfry — and how could the protagonist saw through metal so fast!<) are pretty much the opposite of what I’m after.
Would love any recommendations that lean heavily into realism.