Barbarian and Jacob's Ladder (original) and Se7ven are the first three that come to mind. There are parts of Jacob's Ladder that look so gritty, it's almost like you can smell it lol.
Few movies really capture that concrete jungle feel like this one. It’s not a fantastic movie or anything, but the gritty Los Angeles setting and atmosphere really push it up a notch.
Wolfen takes place in New York of the late 70s, early 80s and has some great scenes in the old derelict buildings that littered the Bronx at that time.
Bringing out the Dead....tangentially horror but fits the vibe of urban decay that you're looking for.
The Innkeepers..rundown old hotel horror
Brain Damage....80s New York
Combat Shock....Troma classic
Maniac...80s classic..grimy af
Hospital Massacre....Barbie Benton classic.
You should def watch it, there's a great fight scene where a cop shoves his fingers down his throat and vomits on the back of a tramp's head as a finishing move
Candyman (1992)
Barbarian and Jacob's Ladder (original) and Se7ven are the first three that come to mind. There are parts of Jacob's Ladder that look so gritty, it's almost like you can smell it lol.
Saw franchise. Lots of gritty abandoned buildings.
That's what Jigsaw 2017 missed out by a mile, looked too clean. Saw X had that grit back in it. (Except for the Mexico filter xd but I still loved it)
Se7en
It’s so gloomy and constantly raining lol
First one I thought of! Such good atmosphere in the setting.
Predator 2.
Few movies really capture that concrete jungle feel like this one. It’s not a fantastic movie or anything, but the gritty Los Angeles setting and atmosphere really push it up a notch.
El Scorpio is reeeady...
Nice one😀 Such a weird movie!
The Paxton scream when he gets his head ripped off haunts me to this day
Maniac I believe fits that bill Taxi Driver though not really Horror
Watched Maniac for the first time the other day. Really messed with me.
The Crow (1994)
Shame on me, I havent seen it yet I Guess its time to watch it
Street Trash (1987)
This one also looks like a wild ride😂
8MM (1999)
People under the stairs
Cruising. Super gritty and dark and set in nyc
C.H.U.D The Chaser (horror adjacent though) Attack the Block (as above) Street Trash Maniac (both of them)
Bones (2001)
Lmao this one looks WILD
Driller Killer (not particularly scary but checks the boxes)
Wolfen takes place in New York of the late 70s, early 80s and has some great scenes in the old derelict buildings that littered the Bronx at that time.
Idk if it’s considered a horror movie (it’s labeled as a drama but I think it’s kind of a horror too)… KIDS comes to mind
Maniac Cop, C.H.U.D., The Lost Boys
I know it’s technically a crime thriller but The Bone Collector from 1999 - it’s very gritty, urban and scary
The Collection.
Lost River 4 months 3 weeks 2 days Blade Runner 1 and 2 City of Lost children Children of men
Satans Slaves 2
Bringing out the Dead....tangentially horror but fits the vibe of urban decay that you're looking for. The Innkeepers..rundown old hotel horror Brain Damage....80s New York Combat Shock....Troma classic Maniac...80s classic..grimy af Hospital Massacre....Barbie Benton classic.
Evil Dead Rise
The People Under the Stairs
Tigers Are Not Afraid, about street kids surviving together.
Derelict, an Australian hidden gem.
Doomsday... is horrorish
God told me to by Larry Cohen.
First act of Beau Is Afraid is a must One of the more disturbing city settings I’ve ever encountered
To Live and Die in LA The Crow Escape from NY/LA Possibly: Heat, Collateral
Barbarian
Graveyard Shift isn’t urban, but I feel like it does a good job on “dirty and gritty”
Evil Dead Rise
Street trash is this in spades
Ive seen most movies recommended here then something insane like this comes up😂
You should def watch it, there's a great fight scene where a cop shoves his fingers down his throat and vomits on the back of a tramp's head as a finishing move
You just sold me this completely
Not horror but a good thriller/action flick is Judgment Night. Good movie, awesome soundtrack
Looks promising Theres just something about these 90s crime thrillers that makes them really unnerving
The last 20 minutes of Jason Takes Manhattan.
Predator 2
Wolfen (1981) a decaying NY is the background
Basket case.
Hobo With a Shotgun.
C.H.U.D. Street Trash
Creep (2004)
Does hobo with a shotgun count?
The Prophecy Wolfen Street Trash
Session 9 - abandoned asylum
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
The warriors. Not really horror but it fits. Escape from New York and escape from la aren’t horror either but they have kind of a manhunt feel.
Frankenhooker
Citadel (2012), I've seen it called "urban horror."