I haven't seen Juice in probably 25 years
but as a kid it was incredible, because you knew none of the plot, I wonder if and how it holds up now
remember the killings being fairly grounded in reality but also the kind of late 80's/early 90's psycho killer influences, for sure. It's not a lot different than the suburban horror movies where the husband is really a maniac killer, but that twist in a place like late 80's Harlem made it really dope. And the other realities of urban violence, the crack epidemic, as opposed to the suburban setting, where violence is nonexistent/never explicit. It's basically a pyscho/thriller/slasher.
Felt realistic to a point when I was about 13.
and 2Pac's sheer charisma as an actor, made his turn all the more compelling and upsetting, which is similar to the best of those 80's kind of suburban thrillers, it's always the most charming character who is actually the killer
it's kind of a good example of what is talked about when black films are made as not only urban dramas/or slave/civil rights but movies like everyone else makes, except with a black cast. But, Juice also has certified authenticity as a hip hop and black movie.
it's all of those things, and none of them at the same time.