What Horror 2013 Movie Has The Most Realistic Gore Effects?

If forced to pick the single most realistic gore demonstration from horror released in 2013, I keep coming back to 'Contracted'. Watching it on a cramped couch, I was struck by how methodical the deterioration is — the film treats the body like a biological system under siege, and the FX follow that logic. That makes the gore feel plausible; it’s not just blood for blood’s sake, but a believable cascade of symptoms that culminates in some very uncomfortable practical effects. The prosthetics are used in stages, which helps maintain immersion: you see the progression, and that continuity matters more than a single big set-piece.

That said, 'Evil Dead' from the same year bears mentioning. Its brutality is loud and physical, leaning on makeup and stunt work to deliver a tactile punch. While it’s more overtly violent, the team’s commitment to practical effects gives many scenes a gritty, grounded feel. If you’re into behind-the-scenes stuff, hunt down interviews or featurettes on the makeup teams — they often explain how layering prosthetics and paying attention to real-world anatomy made the difference. For people who care about technique as much as shock value, comparing these two films is a fascinating exercise — one prefers slow, biological realism, the other theatrical, brutal immediacy.

My pick for the most realistic gore effects from 2013 has to be 'Contracted'. I watched it late one weekend on a laptop with the lights low, and the progression of the protagonist’s physical decline felt disturbingly tangible — not cartoonishly over-the-top, but a steady, messy deterioration that made you squirm in a believable way. The makeup and prosthetic work are the stars: gradual lesions, swelling, ulceration and then the more extreme visceral bits later on are handled with a grit that screamed practical effects over CGI. Sound design plays a huge role too; the squelches, the wetness, the muted bone and tissue sounds make the visuals hit harder. It’s the sort of film where the effects team clearly thought about how actual infections and tissue damage behave, not just how to shock viewers.

I also like to bring up 'Evil Dead' (2013) in the same conversation because it approaches realism from a different angle — hyper-physical performances, slams into furniture, squibs and practical gore that feel immediate. But for sheer believable bodily decay and the creeping, progressive nature of the horror, 'Contracted' wins for me. If you’re sensitive, be warned: it’s intimate and discomforting rather than gloriously splattery. For fans of body-horror who appreciate prosthetics and makeup that sell an illness as opposed to a one-off spectacle, this film still stands out years later.

'Contracted' is the one I’d point to for the most realistic gore in 2013. It’s quieter than the splashy horror remakes and it earns its gross-out by showing a believable medical decline rather than relying on over-the-top carnage, so the prosthetics and makeup feel earned. I remember flipping through the commentary and being impressed by how the effects were staged in sequence to sell the illness; that continuity is what makes it feel real. If you want something more viscerally theatrical, 'Evil Dead' (2013) delivers physical, in-your-face gore through strong practical effects and stunt work, but for pure body-horror realism that sticks with you, 'Contracted' still creeps into my head weeks after watching. If you decide to check it out, maybe keep some spare tissues and a strong stomach nearby.