Bullet hit squib

This article is about the gunshot wound special effect. For malfunctioning firearm cartridges, see squib load.

A bullet hit squib, or a blood squib, is a pyrotechnic, practical special effect device used to simulate the appearance of a person being shot in film, television and theatre. The effect creates a stylised and exaggerated aesthetic, in which bodily fluids and tissue expel under force through a blown hole on an actor’s clothing, a widely recognised visual convention that filmmakers and audiences alike associate with gunshot wounds.

The device comprises a small, explosive charge (a squib) with an integrated igniter or glow wire, a pack of simulant (often fake blood), a protective shield and padding hidden within the actor's costume, which is typically pre-scored at the effect location. It is connected to a power source and a remote, detonated by the actor or a crew member to achieve the effect.

The effect is usually carried out with clothing instead of on bare skin to conceal the device. Multiple squibs may be used and triggered either simultaneously or sequentially to represent different types of gunfire. While used for dramatic effect to illustrate the demise of a character, the visual result does not accurately reflect the physical characteristics of real gunshot wounds (such as in the main figure, bullet holes are blown outwards and blood projects through the entire jacket).

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.