Adapted from an article on: www.thehalloweentheatre.com

Below are several different recipes for making your own realistic looking film blood! Most are safe for oral use (not that kind of "oral" you naughty person) but one contains a toxic ingredient so be careful. I found these on the above website after doing a search on google. They don't really go into any depth, but hey, do you really need them to? If you know of a better blood recipe, please contact me and I'll post it on the site.

Enjoy.

Recipe #1 - Corn Syrup

Ingredients: Light corn syrup
                    Red food colour (add a drop 
                       of blue if needed) 

Instructions: None were given on the website but one would presume mix together then test on the dog.

Recipe #2 - Flour-based

Ingredients: 2 teaspoons of flour
                    1 cup of water
                    Red food colour (add a drop 
                       of green if needed)
                        

Instructions: Mix the flour into the water and get all of the lumps out. Put into a pan and bring it to a boil. Let it simmer until it has the consistency you want (about 30 minutes). Let it cool and stir in the colour.

Note: This one looks good on cloth but is slightly slimy

Recipe #3 - Dick Smith's Blood Formula

For those of you looking for THE blood recipe here is a recipe created by master makeup artist Dick Smith. This is the same blood that was used in the movies, TAXI DRIVER, THE EXORCIST and LITTLE BIG MAN among others.

Ingredients: 1 Quart White Corn Syrup 
                     1 Level Tsp Zinc Oxide (any laboratory
                         supply) 
                     2 Oz. Ehler Red Food Colour 
                     5 Tsp Ehler Yellow Food Colour 
                     2 Oz. Kodak Photo-Flo *Poisonous*
                          (any photo supply store)  
                     2 Oz. Of Water 

Instructions: Put the zinc oxide into a bowl, add an equal amount of water and paste. Add the food colouring and stir (If you are not using Ehler's brand yellow, use only one-half the amount indicated). Add a little of the corn syrup and mix well. Pour into a container that holds more than the final amount (you have to shake it up before use, as it may separate), add the remaining corn syrup and mix well. Then add the amount of water specified and mix again. This will give your blood a normal consistency. Keep this and all corn syrup recipes refrigerated when not in use (or it will grow mould) and mix well before use.

Note: Due to one of the ingredients being poisonous, this blood Recipe should not be used if it is likely to be swallowed during or after application - that is of course, unless you want a real death in your movie...

Ingredients: 6 eggs shells and all
                    1/2 cup Dannon strawberry yogurt
                    1/3 cup cottage cheese (preferably 
                        with pineapples)
                    4 squirts red food colouring
                    1/2 cup Aunt Jamima maple syrup 
                        (extra thick)
                    3 heaping tablespoons corn syrup                    

Instructions: In a two-quart saucepan, combine eggs (with shells), yogurt, cottage cheese, maple syrup, and corn starch. Heat over low flame for 15 minutes, frequently. Add colouring, stir, and cover. Cook for 5 minutes, or until mixture takes on the consistency of phlegm. Makes enough for 2 concerts.

Recipe #5 - Make Your Own!

Experiment: There are many other blood recipes that all have a few variations. We have tried many, but like the flour and corn syrup recipes the best. If you want to experiment with your own, other ingredients may include some of the following: