We Went to A Blood Rave in NYC

The Crystal Method, legions of cosplayers, and synthetic blood were all part of the anticipated Comic Con afterparty.

October 13, 2015, 2:05am

All photos by Luis Nieto Dickens/No Sleep NYC

Last Friday, the opening sequence from the 1998 cult vampire action film Blade was brought to life—no pun intended—at a Comic Con afterparty held at New York City's Terminal 5. In the movie, 90s club kids drag a normie into a meatlocker disguised as a dancefloor, get him drenched in blood, and try to eat him while Pump Panel's brooding remix of New Order's "Confusion" drones on.

Meet The Crystal Method, the Big Beat Duo That Soundtracked Every Early-Aughts Movie That Mattered

Bringing this snuff rave to life entailed a live performance from The Crystal Method, legions of cosplayers, and technicians soaking the eager crowd in synthetic blood using spray devices. Dressed in my Alexander Fang, I dove into the bloodbath, with Luis Nieto Dickens snapping pictures along the way.

Pictureplane's opening DJ set brought the industrial techno authenticity.

A fandom intersection made in heaven (or Hellmouth).

15 minutes into bloodbath and chill and he gives you this look.

One of the night's many incredibly urgent selfies.

Meanwhile, most clubs confiscate even a fucking ballpoint pen.

TFW when you realize you're so excited you just swallowed a fang.

In case you can't tell, this vampire actor is holding a flag for Sea Shepard—the non-profit marine conservation organization. Because when you're immortal, saving the planet becomes really, really important.