Juice: A Hood Horror Film

By: Myriam Akbar

Juice is a 1992 crime thriller film, directed by Ernest R. Dickerson. It stars Tupac Shakur, Omar Epps, Jermaine Hopkins, and Khalil Kain.  The plot follows four high schoolers living in Harlem and their day-to-day activities, as well as their struggles to survive in their neighborhood. In many ways this film acts as a coming of age or cautionary tale, demonstrating the way one’s environment can influence identity and behavior. My fiancé suggested that I watch it because he views it as a horror film and wanted my opinion. Given that I am constantly emphasizing how expansive and misunderstood the genre is, I instantly accepted the opportunity. I will argue that while crime thriller is a fitting label, viewing Juice through the lens of horror is nuanced and absolutely suitable. It’s no more a hood horror tale than a segment of my favorite horror film, Tales From the Hood. 

I’ll start with some basics. This film focuses on the killings committed by a man out for blood, who often pops up like the Boogeyman. There’s a dark tone and use of ominous sound in several scenes. While a good chunk of the film isn’t reliant on these elements, many slashers start off with a good ol’ time. Juice begins with world and character building, setting the story up. Think summer camp counselors partying or friends having a lakeside reunion. Then after one murder, the spree begins. I think many would argue this isn’t a horror film simply because the killer doesn’t wear a mask and uses a gun as his weapon of choice. John Kramer, Freddy Krueger, Candyman, and the killer from Hush are examples of maskless horror villains. The Town That Dreaded Sundown, Ms. 45, Terrifier, and some of the Scream franchise involve gun usage. It can be done. 

Now, the conceptual aspects of the film. On the surface, Juice examines betrayal in friendship and the fatal consequences of earning street credibility through violence. However on a deeper level, it explores the dangerous impact of toxic masculinity and desire for power. This is shown through Bishop’s descent into madness, often explored in psychological horror films. We see him transform from someone who enjoyed laughing and watching television with his friends, to someone who wanted to kill and frame them. Environmental stress, paranoia, and harmful ideologies of what it means to be a man all contribute to his dark turn. 

Often people argue that in order for a film to be horror, it needs to be “scary” and I know this will be a top subject of analysis with Juice. I argue that the idea that a horror film needs to be scary to the general public is a narrow and outdated assertion. Defining what’s scary is not only subjective, but heavily influenced by an individual’s personal life experiences. For example, one’s own triggers or phobias. I personally found Bishop and his actions to be frightening, specifically due to the quick and unexpected nature of the escalated events. He’s brutal and relentless when he commits murder, turning to manipulation and intimidation afterwards–a menacing switch in personality from the beginning of the film. As someone who has seen this happen to people in real life, I’d say the film is scary. 

Lastly, I want to point out the significance of considering the feeling of fear experienced by the characters in the story–not just the audience. When Bishop kills Raheem, Steel and Q are filled with terror. After threatening to do the same to them if they don’t follow his orders, that feeling of dread follows them everywhere they go. His behavior creates an anxiety inducing situation for the characters and viewer–if you’re like me and imagined yourself in their shoes. 

This question has inspired me to analyze other films that can be viewed through the lens of horror, which will be a challenge because I can't think of any off the top of my head. Regardless of its label, I will say that Juice was worth every minute of my time. It's star-studded, culturally relevant, makes an impact through its themes, has memorable acting performances, and showcases top-notch fashion.