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A bullet hit squib or a blood squib is a practical, pyrotechnic special effect device used mainly in the film industry, TV shows and stage performances[1] and even in first responder moulage training to simulate the appearance of a person being shot and wounded.[2][3][4] This is achieved by blowing open a pre-scored hole on the actor's clothing and bursting a fake blood packet with a small explosion, creating an aesthetic that filmmakers and audiences alike have become accustomed to associating with a gunshot wound.
The effect is usually carried out with clothing instead of on bare skin in order to conceal the device. While the portrayal is not necessarily accurate or is exaggerated compared to real-life[5] (in the main figure, bullet holes are blown outwards and blood projects through the fabric), it is nevertheless a useful tool to create a dramatic scene.
The device comprises a squib (a small, tablet-shaped, firecracker-like explosive) with an integrated igniter, a pack of simulant (often fake blood), a protective shield and padding attached to the actor's costume. It is connected to a battery and a remote, allowing the squib to be triggered by the actor or a crew member.
Bullet hit squibs were first used in the film industry as early as 1943 in Bataan[6] and 1955 in Pokolenie,[7] with the latter using fake blood added in a condom and a squib, a technique still widely in use today. The use of squibs in filmmaking has become a widely accepted and well-established technique for creating convincing and realistic depictions of violence. This approach has been used in many classic films such as The Matrix (1999), Goodfellas (1990), and The Terminator (1984).
Various crew members create blood squib effects in film productions: pyrotechnicians[8] build squibs while costume designers prepare multiple identical outfits for actors.[9] Collaboration among the writer, director, producer, and actor is essential for determining squib positions, numbers, and costume design. At least three,[10] sometimes up to six, costumes are used for different takes and camera angles, dress rehearsals, backups, and tests, depending on the budget.[11] This can become costly for low-budget filmmakers and a trade-off between the number of character deaths, takes (i.e. costume duplicates) and squibs (i.e. multiple hits).
To prevent the audience from noticing, squibs are integrated discreetly into costumes, designed with a low profile and minimal bulge. Careful fabric incision also reduces the visibility of the scoring marks.
A movie squib is typically a flat, disc-shaped explosive weighing 0.5-1.0 grain (0.03-0.06 g) — by comparison, a party popper is about 0.25 grain (0.015 g), and a small firecracker is about 2.5 grain (0.15 g) — is used to create entry or exit wounds with 10-30 ml of fake blood, respectively.[12] This amount also depends on the absorbency of the fabric and the desired visual aesthetic. The blood is filled in a small balloon, packet, or condom placed on the squib, followed by a grooved protective plate and padding.[13][11] The assembly is secured with duct tape, leaving a small front window for the simulant to burst through.
Various simulants, such as fake blood, water (rehearsals),[14] glycerine (night scenes),[15] or dry substances like dust[16][17] and feathers (gunshot aesthetic on a down jacket),[18][19] are used depending on the desired effect. The bullet hit squib assembly weighs approximately 30 g, measuring 50 mm in diameter and 15 mm thick. Aligning the bottom half of the blood packet with the squib produces an aerosolised burst followed by a stream of fake blood.[20]
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Main article: Dead-character costume |
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Dead-character costumes are stage clothes worn by actors who play characters that are killed off, modified to conceal special effects equipment such as squibs and wiring, taking into account script and scene requirements, squib integrability, aesthetics, lighting and budget. They therefore play an important role as a figurative canvas, portraying the violence and death through bursts of blood, frayed bullet holes and the staining of the clothing. For bare skin gunshot wounds, prosthetics may be used instead. For main characters, several stunt pieces with squibs and pre-scored bullet holes are prepared for multiple takes and camera angles, in addition to the hero piece used in prior scenes and closeups without squibs.
To create the bullet holes, the fabric is weakened by cutting,[8] sanding,[11] scoring,[21] grating[22] or plunging a scoring tool,[23] often required by health and safety legislation, then loosely glued or taped back together. Squib placement should be consistent across all stunt pieces, and each costume is typically used once per take, though some clothing like jackets (e.g. waterproof, parka and down) can be reused if the bullet holes are already cleanly precut. They can be wiped clean and reset for multiple takes, making them a preferred choice in addition to their ability to conceal devices, provide padding, support multiple squibs, and be easily worn and removed, minimising the risk of accidental premature rupturing. However, stronger fabric requires more weakening and/or a more powerful squib if the fabric is not precut earlier.
To ensure fake blood propels outwards and within the costume, squibs are aligned with the precut bullet holes and securely attached. They are connected to a trigger, power source, and sometimes a programmable controller for synchronisation. Electronics can be placed in the clothing or off-camera. Test fires and rehearsals are performed to check for faults and to make adjustments (e.g. timing or amount of fake blood) as needed.
The actor can wear the prepared outfit immediately prior to the shot, throughout a scene, or even the entire day,[24] depending on the number of hero and stunt duplicates available, how long the scene is, and as long as the actor is comfortable. Therefore, it is crucial to use a two-step ignition procedure with a safety controlled by the actor and crew to prevent accidental triggering.[8] Squibs can be triggered wired or wirelessly, with the latter solution allowing for more mobility and self-contained electronics.
Safety instructions and timing of squib explosions are informed before filming to ensure the actor is comfortable with the stunt.[8] The actor should avoid looking at the squibs and keep arms away.[24] When triggered on cue (e.g. a specific line in the script, countdown or location), the squib detonates, bursting the blood packet and ripping open the pre-made bullet hole as the actor reacts, creating a convincing effect.
After the take, technicians check for misfires. If this occurs, power is disconnected, circuits are rechecked, and squibs replaced if needed. Spare stunt costumes minimise downtime. If successful, the wardrobe department photographs the "aftermath" for continuity and prepares for the next take, scene, or clean up.[10][25] Bullet holes may be enhanced for the following scene.[10] Unused costumes modified with squibs are not usually returned to the costume shop due to the damage from pre-scoring the fabric and the opening of the interior (in the case of jackets).
Sometimes, to minimise the visibility of squibs and scoring marks on the fabric, footage is cut to just before squibs fire. Alternatively, digital removal in post-production using reference frames and content-aware fill is also possible to some extent.[26][27] Additionally, sound effects further enhance the effect during post-production.
Budget-conscious filmmakers can create a similar effect without squibs by using a fishing line attached to a washer glued onto a blood pack, pulled through a precut hole.[28] Alternatively, rocket igniters or electric matches can be employed.[29] However, these methods lack the initial burst from squibs and typically produce only a stream of blood.
More advanced methods using pneumatics (compressed air)[30] emerged in the 2010s, offering safer options without needing pyrotechnicians, thereby reducing costs. However, they are bulkier, heavier, harder to control, and less reliable[31] and not preferred for multiple bullet hits.[32] Despite not using explosives, they may still be erroneously referred to as "squibs." Initially developed from garden sprayers in the early 2000s,[33] these devices have been refined,[34][35] but the resulting effect is less convincing with a jet of blood spray instead of an aerosol burst, and rigid tubing is difficult to conceal.
The record for the most squibs ever set off on a person is held by Mike Daugherty in 2005, on whom 157 out of 160 squibs successfully detonated.[36][37]