Bullet hit squib

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.