Line #145 Main/RedFilterOfDoom


1	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dyingsoldier_9.png]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Can't blame [[HumanPincushion him]] for leaving. That situation doesn't look healthy.]]
3
4	The red filter, where everything shifts to a basically white-red-black spectrum, is often used to facilitate a change in mood. That change in mood takes plenty of forms -- fist-pumping action by the light of a smoldering car, perhaps, or passionate romance by the light of young blood.
5
6	Then, there's the [[red:Red Filter of Doom]].
7
8	Oddly enough, the best-case scenario with this is that the source of the red light is immediately apparent - say, [[BadMoonRising the moon has turned blood-red]], or there's a glowing {{doomsday device}} in the center of the room, or [[BattleAmongstTheFlames something nearby is on fire]]. If the only indication that it's a Red Filter of Doom is that it's not particularly romantic, there's just a general air of ominosity, or the fist-pumping action scene that was in regular saturation a few seconds ago has suddenly slowed and turned the color of blood, we can only issue a general warning to ''brace yourself''.
9
10	Can sometimes overlap with WarmPlaceWarmLighting.
11
12	See also ColorWash, PhotoshopFilterOfEvil, RedEyesTakeWarning, RedAlert, and MonochromaticImpactShot.
13	----
14	!!Examples:
15	[[foldercontrol]]
16	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
17	* Done rather blatantly in the first episode of ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'', when Raki literally walks into a room with it's own self-contained red filter to find a yoma eating his family. There's a few other red filters in the episode as well whenever yoma are involved.
18	* ''Manga/DeathNote'' has a big 'un. (Note to AMV makers in the fandom: using the scene basically uncut does ''not'' replicate the power of the original.) Actually, there are rather low-key Red Filters Of Doom throughout in the form of views through the [[MagicalEye Shinigami Eyes]], which carry the implication of mortality and vulnerability.
19	* ''Manga/{{Noragami}}'' uses this during flashbacks to the days of feudal Japan when two gods of calamity/war (namely, [[spoiler: Rabo and Yato]]) are shown slaying dozens of people as per the wishes of their devotees.
20	* More than once, when ''Anime/SailorMoon's'' Tuxedo Mask [[DistressedDude sustains a horrible injury]]. Other characters sometimes get these as well, for example, in ''Sailor Stars'' the same effect is used when [[spoiler: the four Guardian Senshi get their Star Seeds removed]].
21	[[/folder]]
22
23	[[folder:Comic Books]]
24	* In the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' graphic novel ''A Shadow in [=RiverClan=]'', two scenes are shown in ominous red tones: Feathertail's flashback of Tigerstar at the Bonehill where he demanded that Stonefur kill Feathertail and her brother and then ordered Stonefur's death when he refused, and a nightmare sequence of Leopardstar supporting Tigerstar's actions at the same scene.
25	[[/folder]]
26
27	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
28	This trope is pretty common in animated films; here are just a few noteworthy examples.
29	* Happens at the end of ''WesternAnimation/TheBraveLittleToaster''. Interestingly, this trope only occurs on the official released media download. The PAL version (which notably has a more clean and clear focus) merely has [[RedSkyTakeWarning the sky turning red]].
30	* Raplph Bakshi's ''WesternAnimation/TheLordOfTheRings'' starts with this.
31	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePagemaster'' has a particularly gratuitous one during the Captain Ahab sequence.
32	* Twice in WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler.
33	** First is the introduction of the One-eyes: After the camera pans up to view the three golden balls that protect the city, the screen suddenly turns red, menacing music starts playing and the camera travels past vast areas of land to reveal the One-eyes in the middle of thousands of human corpses.
34	** The second time is when the enormous war machine is collapsing, {{Justified\|Trope}} by the fire.
35	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'': Seen when King Triton, filled with unbridled rage, destroys Ariel's grotto with his magic trident (whose glow also creates the filter).
36	* Seen in ''WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'' when Pongo and Perdita fight off the Baduns in the [=DeVil=] mansion.
37	* Occurs in ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'', when Woody inadvertently knocks Buzz out the window and the other toys accuse him of deliberately trying to kill Buzz. In-universe, it's caused by the sunset sky outside the window.
38	** Also happens in ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'' when the toys are in [[MurderByCremation the incinerator]].
39	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'': Happens when the stepsisters are ripping apart Cinderella's dress. In some shots, there's just red-and-black with no background details.
40	* ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective'': This occurs briefly during Ratigan's VillainSong, as he vows that "no one, not even Basil, can stand in my way!"
41	* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', Mei's nightmare is entirely like this.
42	* Used in ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie2TheSecondPart'' as [[spoiler:all of Apocalypseburg and the Systar System gets banished to the Bin of Storajj during Armamageddon]].
43	[[/folder]]
44
45	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
46	* Happens in the climax of ''Film/MightyJoeYoung'' (1939). An orphanage is burning down. In spite of the efforts of the caring staff, young children are still trapped inside. [[spoiler: Fortunately, Mighty Joe Young and co. save the day.]]
47	* Happens when [[spoiler:Wash is killed by the Reavers]] in the ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' movie. Definitely contributes to the inexplicable-is-worse axiom.
48	* Used for significant impact by Creator/AkiraKurosawa in ''Film/{{Kagemusha}}'' (in the dusk/sunset scenes of UsefulNotes/TakedaShingen's army marching), and most notably ''Film/{{Ran}}'' (the closing shot of [[DownerEnding Tsurumaru at the cliff]]).
49	* In ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' the nighttime lighting turns to hellish red during the resurrecting ritual to fully restore Conan's life, due to Valeria and Subotai having to fend off against the demonic spirits that want to abduct him. Also used when they infiltrate into the BigBad's "kitchen" where cannibalistic cooking takes place.
50	* In ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'', the filter is red owing to a fiery demon, the Balrog.
51	* ''Film/RocketshipXM''. Scenes on [[UsefulNotes/{{Mars}} the Red Planet]] were given a red tint -- it turns out the Martian civilization has been destroyed by nuclear war.
52	* Similarly, ''Film/TheAngryRedPlanet'' depicts a Mars positively drenched in a hellish red lighting, which fits the alien horrors the protagonists come across.
53	* Happened a lot in the old Creator/ShawBrothers kung fu movies when a major character died a bloody and often ''painful'' death.
54	* The red filter is used in ''Film/ShaPoLang'' when Wu Jing's character Jack kills the witness and kicks off the plot.
55	* Used in the bizarre mausoleum scenes in ''Film/TheWizardOfGore'' when Montag is carrying the dead bodies of the girls and putting them into that narrow passageway.
56	* In ''Film/{{Dreamscape}}'' the President of the United States' nightmare depict an AfterTheEnd SceneryGorn caused by a nuclear war, all lit in deep red.
57	* In ''Film/{{Aliens}}'', the color palette goes almost solid red after [[spoiler: the Xenomorphs cut the power, [[MassOhCrap fittingly enough.]] The red is explained by the emergency lights.]]
58	* Similarly, in ''Film/{{Dredd}}'' alarm lighting dips everything in a deep red filter until the anti-nuke lockdown of Peach Trees is completed.
59	* The hallways of the hospital in ''Film/ScaryStoriesToTellInTheDark2019'' are drenched in red light during the scene in which The Pale Lady goes after Chuck.
60	* The final battle of the 2015 production of ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'' is shot this way. It's justified by the fact that Birnam Wood is burning nearby, covering the battlefield in smoke and ash and lighting it with the fires, but the lighting gives the battle between Macbeth and Macduff an eerie quality to it.
61	* Used a few times in ''[[Film/Napoleon1927 Napoléon]]'' (1927), most notably during the final stages of the siege of Toulon, when the black-and-white film stock is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_tinting tinted]] red.
62	[[/folder]]
63
64	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
65	* In ''Series/Babylon5'', in [[MouthOfSauron Morden]]'s more adversarial encounters with characters, the surrounding lights and ambience would darken and redden in his presence. This is seen when he encounters Londo when their relations are strained in "Interludes and Examinations", and when he encounters Kosh in "Signs and Portents". The ExpandedUniverse ''Passing of the Techno-Mages'' novels described Morden's encounters with Galen thusly as well.
66	* Played with in ''Series/BandOfBrothers'', especially the episode Crossroads, wherein the color was washed out to the point that everything except red was nearly in black and white.
67	* When Brother Justin [[spoiler: kills Scudder]] in ''Series/{{Carnivale}}''.
68	* ''Series/TheChroniclesOfNarniaBBC'': Used during Peter's battle with the wolf in ''The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe''.
69	* The hypothetical flashbacks (necessarily gruesome) in ''Series/{{CSI}}''.
70	* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS02E20WhatIsAndWhatShouldNeverBe "What Is And What Should Never Be" (S02, Ep20)]], the bodies in the Wishverse warehouse are hanging in from of back-lit red screens, giving these scenes an ominous and unreal air.
71	[[/folder]]
72
73	[[folder:Music]]
74	* Used in Music/{{LOONA}} Olivia Hye's video for ''Egoist'' when Olivia [[spoiler: sets fire to the swan plushie, bed, and Eden uniform.]]
75	** Somewhat of a CallingCard, as it also appears in sub-unit yyxy's ''love4eva'' video as Olivia wanders the forest and [[spoiler: realises that the other girls have left her in Eden.]]
76	* Music/{{Genesis\|Band}} used this for Phil's EvilLaugh on "Mama." Live performances replicated this by illuminating Phil with red uplighting.
77	[[/folder]]
78
79	[[folder:Theater]]
80	* In many performances of ''Theatre/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet'', Sweeney's murder of Pirelli is cast in red lighting accompanied by [[HellIsThatNoise the shrill factory whistle]].
81	** Also, the chorus number of "City on Fire" during the finale usually does this to ramp up the tension.
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Video Games]]
85	* In ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'', whenever Ann's LifeMeter nearly runs out, the screen turns red from all sides.
86	* In ''VideoGame/SCPSecretLaboratory'', the lights in the facility turn bright red when the Alpha Warhead's countdown is started/restarted. They will return to normal if the countdown is stopped, but remain red for the rest of the round if it detonates.
87	* In combat racer ''VideoGame/{{Blur}}'', the screen turns red when you're about to die. This of course does a smashing job at obscuring the colours of the power-ups, including the one that repairs you, forcing you to look for the tiny wrench icon on several different squares approaching at 300 kph.
88	* This happens when you're [[CriticalAnnoyance near death]] in many {{first person shooter}}s, e.g. ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty''.
89	** ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorAirborne'' also uses it during ShellShockSilence moments, such as nearby explosions, as well as being a critical health indicator.
90	* In ''VideoGame/DarkTales: Morella'', once the player and Dupin are trapped inside the malevolent house, the light coming in one of the windows has this effect. It only adds to the already creepy setting.
91	* In the second ''VideoGame/DetectivesUnited'' game, the heroes visit another dimension in the bonus chapter, where the AlienSky gives this appearance to everything. It's revealed that this is the result of some experiments which have had devastating impact on the environment.
92	* Seen in the first ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}''. The title says it all.
93	* ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}''
94	** Throughout the classic games, when you pick up the Berserker Pack, your screen will turn red, you'll be restored to 100 health if you were below that and your fists become more powerful than a shotgun for the rest of the current level.
95	** In ''VideoGame/Doom3'', a red color filter is used during certain [[VideoGameSetpiece setpieces]]. Usually it appears alongside screen noise and a reduction in movement and aiming speed.
96	* In ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'', the screen is tinted red [[CriticalAnnoyance when thy HP is low]].
97	* This is applied whenever you go berserk (which can happen for a number of reasons) in ''VideoGame/DungeonCrawl''.
98	* ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'': The borders on dialogue boxes and the like turn red if one or more of your party members have been [=KOed=].
99	* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' shows this when you become addicted to a drug.
100	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
101	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', to cap off the incredible turn for the worse in Thamasa. (The even-more-doom-laden scene after the next dungeon skips out, though.)
102	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' also uses it during an attack on a small village--somewhat appropriately, since the place is set on fire.
103	* This usually accompanies the [[OneHitKill Lethality skill]] in the ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' series.
104	* ''VideoGame/{{Forestia}}'': The whole forest is bathed in an eerie red glow during the Fire Mountain chapter.
105	* ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'': The entire turns red as the player is near death while the main logo appears in the center.
106	* Used all over the place in ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry''. Sometimes, it happens when a corpse is discovered (There, it's probably supposed to be a stand-in for blood), but it's just as likely to show up when someone's in the grip of a paranoia episode - perhaps trying to give off a bit of a [[spoiler:fever]] vibe. [[http://i56.tinypic.com/212d5eh.jpg Here's]] a good example shot.
107	* In ''Iron Tank'', the screen [[EpilepticFlashingLights strobes]] red when your tank is destroyed.
108	* In ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'', a red-and-black filter that throbs on and off is used to signify Hisao's [[HeartTrauma arrythmia]] acting up.
109	* Happens in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' '97 when facing Blood Riot Iori or Blood Riot Leona.
110	* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
111	** This happens when you die in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'' and ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink''.
112	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'': The sky turns bright red (and the nearby clouds rapidly pass by) when a cluster of Gloom Hands notices Link. This is not only done for horror, as the red sky will also enforce a MaximumHPReduction every time Link is grabbed by one of the hands. The sky goes away when Link manages to lose sight of the Hands (if he instead defeats them, then he'll also have to defeat [[spoiler:Phantom Ganon]] to make the sky go back to normal for good).
113	* ''VideoGame/PoliceQuest4OpenSeason'' turns the screen red whenever you blunder into a GameOver.
114	* ''VideoGame/{{Resident Evil 5}}'' momentarily displays a negative color filter when a partner goes into "Dying" status.
115	* ''VideoGame/SilentHill3'' has a sequence in the amusement park where you have to run through a twisty hallway while a deadly [[HellIsThatNoise buzzing]] red light is [[AdvancingWallOfDoom advancing up the corridor behind you]].
116	* In the ''VideoGame/SyphonFilter'' series, the interface flashes red when you're in imminent danger, eg an enemy [[BoomHeadshot targeting your head]].
117	* In ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', Blood Moons have a chance of happening each night, where most environments noticeably turn red, and the spawn rate of hostile creatures increase.
118	* In ''VideoGame/{{Wet}}'', in certain segments when Rubi enters Rage mode, the screen is cast entirely in shades of red, with enemies, items and background elements in black and white.
119	* In ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'' the player character's vision is tinted red when he or she enters [[UnstoppableRage Frenzy]].
120	* Neku's flashback in ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou''.
121	* ''VideoGame/Il2Sturmovik'': Happens when the player's pilot is "wounded". The worse the player is hit, the redder the screen is tinted.
122	* ''F/A-18 Hornet'' has this if you pull excessive negative G-forces.
123	* ''VideoGame/Il2Sturmovik'', will give you a red filter for negative G's ([[HighPressureBlood due to the blood in your body being forced up into your head]]), the filter becoming more intense the more negative G's you pulled. For ''positive'' G's, the screen will darken instead, to show that the pilot is beginning to black out for the opposite reason. Neither condition being terribly good for the pilot. Both instances are TruthInTelevision, "black-out" and "red-out" being serious problems for combat pilots.
124	* ''VideoGame/GoldenKroneHotel'' applies a red filter to the screen when Sorina is about to turn into a vampire.
125	* In ''Videogame/DinoRun'', the screen turns red and black when the pyroclastic AdvancingWallOfDoom is nearly upon you.
126	* In ''VideoGame/HarvestTown'', the screen blinks red if your HP is less than 50 and an enemy/monster is nearby. The red filter disappears if you reach a safe space, even if you haven't recovered your health yet.
127	* In ''VideoGame/{{Stray\|2022}}'', if at least one Zurk is latched onto you, the screen will turn redder and redder as it takes away more of your health, and you die if you fail to shake them off. After shaking the zurk(s) off, the red filter goes away as you recover your health. On a grander scale, there are some areas where the atmospheric lighting has a red tint to it, usually associated with the zurks.
128	[[/folder]]
129
130	[[folder:Webcomics]]
131	* In ''Webcomic/CucumberQuest'', the palette changes into stark black-white-red hues during the fight with Rosemaster [[spoiler:who is using an AmplifierArtifact to double her power]]. Much of the action happens in silhouette and blood red, giving a more dire effect than anything that's happened so far.
132	* ''Webcomic/{{Nebula}}'': The last page of comic #3 is silent shots of the other characters, all in red, and then Sun's clenched fist and closing lines.
133	-->'''Sun:''' ...Hungry. I'm ''[[HorrorHunger hungry]]''.
134	* PlayedForLaughs at the end of [[http://www.dumbingofage.com/2012/comic/book-2/05-saturdays-all-right-for-slighting/freshmen/ this]] ''Webcomic/DumbingOfAge.''
135	[[/folder]]
136
137	[[folder:Web Original]]
138	* A short story titled Literature/MereanaMordegardGlesgorv is about a Youtube video of a man staring at the camera. The video has a a dark, red filter. He then [[SlasherSmile smiles]] for the last two seconds.
139	* While making his review of ''Film/ASimpleWish'', WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic and his brother decided to push the scariness of Creator/MaraWilson's cameo up by adding this and GlowingEyesOfDoom. And she accepted it! (and when WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick managed to get Wilson for a ''Film/{{Matilda}}'' review, it got used again to imply she's an HumanoidAbomination...)
140	* In the infamous "King Ryan" episode of ''[[LetsPlay/AchievementHunterMinecraftSeries Let's Play Minecraft]]'', when Ryan declares that "Edgar is the one in the hole!" there's a red tint to the screen as well as a shaking camera, showing him being evil.
141	* ''WebAnimation/TheTwins2022'': The last section of the short is done with a red ColorWash, foreshadowing the increasing danger as Lucas is stuck in the middle of the road with a hurt ankle and cannot get up.
142	[[/folder]]
143
144	[[folder:Western Animation]]
145	* In the fourth season finale of ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfPussInBoots'', a deep red sun and, later, moon herald the arrival of an AncientEvil.
146	* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
147	** In the first season finale, the nice pale blue light of the moon turns all red when the moon spirit is in mortal danger. Then things go wrong, [[spoiler:and while the red looked unhealthy, the black and white just looks dead]].
148	** In the finale, when [[spoiler:[[CometOfDoom Sozin's Comet]] arrives, its strong fiery trail makes the entire sky red and pink, which washes over every outside scene with a red tint. In this case, the "doom" is that the Big Bad and his Dragon have a massive boost in power while the comet is around, and the former has started his plan to burn the Earth Kingdom to ash.]]
149	* ''WesternAnimation/BigCityGreens'':
150	** The blood moon in the HalloweenEpisode covers the whole city in a red texture which turns the Greens' farm animals into zombies.
151	** Cricket's VillainSong in the ChristmasEpisode takes on a wicked red hue with brief hints of pale green, as he decides to resort to being naughty when he thinks Santa claims he's just that.
152	* Parodied by ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' in a scene where Professor Dementor tries to make himself look ominous by [[ScaryFlashlightFace illuminating his face from below]] with a red flashlight.
153	* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' does this in the scene in "Sock Opera" where Dipper makes a DealWithTheDevil [[spoiler:leading to a case of DemonicPossession]]. In-universe, it's caused by the light shining through the red Cipher-shaped window in the twins' attic room.
154	* In a WesternAnimation/{{Ninjago}} Season 12 [[Recap/NinjagoS12E136TheMazeOfTheRedDragon episode]] the atmosphere turns red when the BigBad Unagami pauses time in the video game world and looms over the NPC Okino, offering to take him to the real world if he betrays the ninja.
155	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'': This occurs several times throughout the series, usually when [[SatanicArchetype HIM]] is involved.
156	** Near the beginning of "The Rowdyruff Boys", this happens when Mojo Jojo, after being defeated for the umpteenth time, [[VillainousBreakdown goes ape]] in his jail cell.
157	** A variation occurs in "Fuzzy Logic"; during Fuzzy's destructive rampage through Townsville, he and the backgrounds turn red, but the other characters are colored solid white.
158	* ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales'': In "Rack, Shack and Benny", the shot where Nezzar does a KubrickStare and EvilLaugh simultaneously as the title characters are successfully loaded into the furnace has a very intense, to say nothing of hellish, red tint to it.
159	[[/folder]]
160
161	[[folder:Real Life]]
162	* A soldier who fought for the Union at the Battle of Antietam during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar reported that "the whole landscape for an instant turned slightly red" as he charged the enemy lines.
163	* UsefulNotes/JoeBiden used this in a [[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62761332 2022 speech]] criticizing the Republican Party before the 2022 midterms.
164	[[/folder]]

Context Main / RedFilterOfDoom