What does Squib mean?
Squib is a small practical special effects device used to simulate the impact of a bullet or other projectile on a surface or on a performer — creating a convincing burst of blood, debris, or material at the moment of impact. Squibs are typically small explosive charges concealed under clothing or within set surfaces, detonated by a special effects technician at the precise moment required by the director. For productions involving child performers, squibs and other pyrotechnic effects require strict safety protocols and are subject to specific restrictions under minor labor laws.
Example:The special effects supervisor spent the morning rigging squibs under the actor’s costume — small charges that would detonate in sequence to simulate multiple impacts, creating a realistic visual effect that practical makeup could not achieve on its own.
Example: Because the production involved a child performer, the special effects coordinator confirmed with the studio teacher and production’s safety officer that all squib effects were positioned at a safe distance from the minor’s working area and that the child would not be present when the charges were detonated.
Did you know?
The use of squibs in film dates back to the 1960s, when special effects technicians began developing reliable small explosive devices for on-screen bullet impacts. Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch (1969) is widely credited with elevating the squib effect to a cinematic art form — the film’s extraordinarily violent slow-motion battle sequences used unprecedented numbers of squibs to create imagery that was shocking, stylized, and technically remarkable for its era. The film fundamentally changed how violence was depicted in American cinema.
You can also find “Squib” and related terms in this category: Filming and Production.
