gritty
adj.adj. showing the hard, unpleasant, or dirty side of life without trying to make it look pretty. You often use this to describe movies or books that feel very real and tough.
adj. showing or having a realistic, harsh, and unvarnished quality. Often describes creative works that focus on urban decay, crime, or the darker aspects of human experience.
The movie is a gritty drama about life on the streets.
The director chose a gritty, handheld filming style to make the crime story feel more authentic and immediate.
While earlier adaptations of the novel focused on the romance, this version offers a gritty portrayal of the industrial revolution's impact on the working class.
From grit + -y.
Often used to describe artistic style or atmosphere; frequently pairs with 'drama', 'realism', or 'portrayal'.