bumblebee wrote:
Oh my God. Is that blood in the photo real? If it is that is horrifying.

I think so. Yes. And it wouldn't necessarily hurt as bad as it looks. Getting cut with a thin razor or wire isn't necesarily painful (i.e. like when shaving), and the blood flows from the facial area pretty well. All the articles indicate that's what these guys were doing.

 In the olden days, I had read that sometimes they used packets(like in saran wrap) of food colouring or chicken blood, but the effect is nowhere near the same.
  

  "Written But Not Read"