History Main / BloodBath

[-[[caption-width-right:330:In this variation, a man harnesses ThePowerOfBlood to attempt to rejuvenate his music career.]]-]

* One chapter of the ''ComicBook/TwoThousandAD'' strip "A Love Like Blood" features the vampire king Karkossa lounging in what appears to be a blood ''jacuzzi'' while also being entertained by female vampires.

* In ''Literature/TheBible'' itself: in some translations, [[Literature/BooksOfKings 1st Kings 22:38]] states that the prostitutes washed themselves in the blood that came from King Ahab when he died in his chariot returning home from his failed attempt to reclaim Ramoth Gilead.

* Countess Elizabeth Bathory of Hungary was for a long time thought to have bathed in the blood of her victim's in order to restore her youth.

The {{Trope Maker|s}} derives from legends surrounding the UsefulNotes/{{Hungar|y}}ian "Blood Countess" UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory who is purported to have bathed in the blood of young women or {{virgin|Sacrifice}}s (accounts vary) in order to restore her [[FairestOfThemAll beauty]] and [[FountainOfYouth youth]]. While the ''real'' Countess Báthory was accused of many gruesome acts, it's certain that her baths in blood are only the stuff of fiction. However, the Blood Bath is very much a key component to be found in any story in which she is featured, and any stories that feature a Blood Bath without Báthory as a character will often allude to her motives for doing this (lifted directly from the legends) and may also mention her by name (or, at least, give a character partaking in this a similar-sounding name as a ShoutOut).

* An early ''WebAnimation/NeuroticallyYours'' short with Germaine getting attacked by the Ghostface Killer from the ''Franchise/{{Scream}}'' movies ends with Germaine continuing her bath in the killer's own blood while his body is seen hanging from the ceiling in the background.

* Based on both the UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory legend and UsefulNotes/VladTheImpaler, one of the scariest villains of ''Manga/GhostHunt'' was a Japanese lord who bathed in the blood of numerous servants in the hope of extending his life and took up the moniker "Urado" (Vlad).

* ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}: Wake the Devil'' references the original legend about UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory. The blood baths are only mentioned, not shown, but the iron maiden that was used to obtain the blood plays a pivotal role in the plot.
* EUsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory was a very minor adversary in Creator/MarvelComics' ''ComicBook/DraculaLives''. Originally, Dracula intended to make Bathory his vampiric servant, but her baths in the blood of virgins had made her immune to Dracula's control, so they briefly agreed to form an alliance. When Bathory finally betrayed Dracula, he ended up [[HistoricalInJoke stealing her journals and turning them in to the authorities, which led to her being sealed in a room in her castle as punishment.]] Dracula later confronted Bathory in her cell and drained her of all her blood; she aged to death in seconds.

* ''The Countess'', a drama about UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory, depicts Bathory as having first applied the blood of virgin girls as a cosmetic but gradually demanded more and more blood until, eventually, she was bathing in it.

* In ''Film/StayAlive'', the vengeful spirit of UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory suspends [[spoiler:Abigail]] over an empty bathtub caked in dried blood and threatens to have her bled into the tub, heavily suggesting this trope, but [[spoiler:Hutch saves a Abigail before any bloodletting could occur]].
* In the 1979 Australian horror movie ''Thirst'', one of the attempts taken by a vampiric cult to recruit and condition the story's unwilling protagonist, believed by the cult to be a descendant of UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory, involves rigging her plumbing to release blood, instead of water, while she takes a shower.
* In ''Film/TheNeonDemon'' [[spoiler:Ruby, Sarah, and Gigi]] murder [[spoiler:Jesse]], a beautiful and virginal young woman, and not only bathe in her blood but cannibalize her as well. The director and co-writer said he was directly inspired by the tales of UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory.
* In ''Film/FrightNight2NewBlood'', the vampiress regularly lures in victims to drain them of their blood and bathe in it to restore her youthful appearance. She even has a giant Roman bath filled with blood hidden in a catacomb. She's all but clearly stated to be UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory.

* In ''[[Literature/{{Dracula The Un-Dead}} Dracula: The Un-Dead]]'', John Seward, who suspects UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory of being a vampire, witnesses her bathe in a young woman's blood.

* According to events in ''Literature/CountAndCountess'', UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory's blood baths began as a means to cure her epilepsy. [[spoiler:It didn't work.]]

* The album cover for Music/{{Kamelot}}'s ''Karma'' depicts a woman in a nightgown waist-deep in a pool of blood. The last three songs on the album, "Elizabeth I, II, & III," are about UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory's life.

* Music/YoshikiHayashi took a Blood Bath in a photoshoot for Fool's Mate magazine and, in the past with Music/XJapan, has written a song about UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory entitled "Rose of Pain".

* [=McFarlane=] Toys included an UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory figure bathing in a tub of blood in their [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6_Faces_of_Madness 6 Faces of Madness]] line.

** DLC character Skarlet is a HumanoidAbomination who gains strength from the blood of fallen warriors (which she consists of). Her fatalities, therefore, involve her enemy's blood spraying/showering over her. Furthermore, her fatality tutorial informs us that UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory is her favorite historical figure.

* The human royal couple from ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'' hunted Elves for this purpose in order to gain immortality. Whether it actually worked is not stated, but given how different fae and human biology are it most likely didn't. Their castle, Chactice, is even named after the modern name for the castle where UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory lived, Cachtice Castle.

* ''WesternAnimation/HellboyAnimated: Blood and Iron'' features a vampire named Erzsebet Ondrushko, clearly based on UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory, who bathes in blood to preserve her youth. [[spoiler:She gets killed when Professor Bruttenholm sneaks some holy water into her blood bath.]]

The {{Trope Maker|s}} derives from legends surrounding the UsefulNotes/{{Hungar|y}}ian "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Báthory who is purported to have bathed in the blood of young women or {{virgin|Sacrifice}}s (accounts vary) in order to restore her [[FairestOfThemAll beauty]] and [[FountainOfYouth youth]]. While the ''real'' Countess Báthory was accused of many gruesome acts, it's certain that her baths in blood are only the stuff of fiction. However, the Blood Bath is very much a key component to be found in any story in which she is featured, and any stories that feature a Blood Bath without Báthory as a character will often allude to her motives for doing this (lifted directly from the legends) and may also mention her by name (or, at least, give a character partaking in this a similar-sounding name as a ShoutOut).

* ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}: Wake the Devil'' references the original legend about Elizabeth Bathory. The blood baths are only mentioned, not shown, but the iron maiden that was used to obtain the blood plays a pivotal role in the plot.
* Elizabeth Bathory was a very minor adversary in Creator/MarvelComics' ''ComicBook/DraculaLives''. Originally, Dracula intended to make Bathory his vampiric servant, but her baths in the blood of virgins had made her immune to Dracula's control, so they briefly agreed to form an alliance. When Bathory finally betrayed Dracula, he ended up [[HistoricalInJoke stealing her journals and turning them in to the authorities, which led to her being sealed in a room in her castle as punishment.]] Dracula later confronted Bathory in her cell and drained her of all her blood; she aged to death in seconds.

* ''The Countess'', a drama about Elizabeth Bathory, depicts Bathory as having first applied the blood of virgin girls as a cosmetic but gradually demanded more and more blood until, eventually, she was bathing in it.

* In ''Film/StayAlive'', the vengeful spirit of Elizabeth Bathory suspends [[spoiler:Abigail]] over an empty bathtub caked in dried blood and threatens to have her bled into the tub, heavily suggesting this trope, but [[spoiler:Hutch saves a Abigail before any bloodletting could occur]].
* In the 1979 Australian horror movie ''Thirst'', one of the attempts taken by a vampiric cult to recruit and condition the story's unwilling protagonist, believed by the cult to be a descendant of Elizabeth Bathory, involves rigging her plumbing to release blood, instead of water, while she takes a shower.
* In ''Film/TheNeonDemon'' [[spoiler:Ruby, Sarah, and Gigi]] murder [[spoiler:Jesse]], a beautiful and virginal young woman, and not only bathe in her blood but cannibalize her as well. The director and co-writer said he was directly inspired by the tales of Elizabeth Bathory.
* In ''Film/FrightNight2NewBlood'', the vampiress regularly lures in victims to drain them of their blood and bathe in it to restore her youthful appearance. She even has a giant Roman bath filled with blood hidden in a catacomb. She's all but clearly stated to be Elizabeth Bathory.

* In ''[[Literature/{{Dracula The Un-Dead}} Dracula: The Un-Dead]]'', John Seward, who suspects Elizabeth Bathory of being a vampire, witnesses her bathe in a young woman's blood.

* According to events in ''Literature/CountAndCountess'', Elizabeth Bathory's blood baths began as a means to cure her epilepsy. [[spoiler:It didn't work.]]

* Music/YoshikiHayashi took a Blood Bath in a photoshoot for Fool's Mate magazine and, in the past with Music/XJapan, has written a song about Elizabeth Bathory entitled "Rose of Pain".

* [=McFarlane=] Toys included an Elizabeth Bathory figure bathing in a tub of blood in their [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6_Faces_of_Madness 6 Faces of Madness]] line.

** DLC character Skarlet is a HumanoidAbomination who gains strength from the blood of fallen warriors (which she consists of). Her fatalities, therefore, involve her enemy's blood spraying/showering over her. Furthermore, her fatality tutorial informs us that Elizabeth Bathory is her favorite historical figure.

* The human royal couple from ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'' hunted Elves for this purpose in order to gain immortality. Whether it actually worked is not stated, but given how different fae and human biology are it most likely didn't. Their castle, Chactice, is even named after the modern name for the castle where Elizabeth Bathory lived, Cachtice Castle.

* ''WesternAnimation/HellboyAnimated: Blood and Iron'' features a vampire named Erzsebet Ondrushko, clearly based on Elizabeth Bathory, who bathes in blood to preserve her youth. [[spoiler:She gets killed when Professor Bruttenholm sneaks some holy water into her blood bath.]]

The {{Trope Maker|s}} derives from legends surrounding the UsefulNotes/{{Hungar|y}}ian "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Báthory who is purported to have bathed in the blood of young women or {{virgin|Sacrifice}}s (accounts vary) in order to restore her [[FairestOfThemAll beauty]] and [[FountainOfYouth youth]]. While the ''real'' Countess Báthory was accused of many gruesome SerialKiller shenanigans, it's certain that her baths in blood are only the stuff of fiction. However, the Blood Bath is very much a key component to be found in any story in which she is featured, and any stories that feature a Blood Bath without Báthory as a character will often allude to her motives for doing this (lifted directly from the legends) and may also mention her by name (or, at least, give a character partaking in this a similar-sounding name as a ShoutOut).

The {{Trope Maker|s}} derives from legends surrounding the UsefulNotes/{{Hungar|y}}ian "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Báthory who is purported to have bathed in the blood of young women or {{virgin|Sacrifice}}s (accounts vary) in order to restore her [[FairestOfThemAll beauty]] and [[FountainOfYouth youth]]. While the ''real'' Countess Báthory has been accused of many gruesome deeds, it's certain that her baths in blood are only the stuff of fiction. However, the Blood Bath is very much a key component to be found in any story in which she is featured, and any stories that feature a Blood Bath without Báthory as a character will often allude to her motives for doing this (lifted directly from the legends) and may also mention her by name (or, at least, give a character partaking in this a similar-sounding name as a ShoutOut).

[[folder:Anime And Manga]]

* In ''[[Literature/JackelianSeries The Kingdom Beyond The Waves]]'', the siltempter Prince Doublemetal regularly lounges in a warm bath of the ''oil'' that his tribe of {{Steampunk}} [[MechanicalLifeforms sentient robots]] have for a "body fluid". Unlike most examples, he and the other siltempters retrieve this oil and use it to lubricate their mechanisms again between baths.

The {{Trope Maker|s}} derives from legends surrounding the UsefulNotes/{{Hungar|y}}ian "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Báthory, a sixteenth- and seventeenth-century SerialKiller purported to have bathed in the blood of {{virgin|Sacrifice}}s to [[VainSorceress restore]] her [[FairestOfThemAll beauty]] and [[FountainOfYouth youth]]. While the ''real'' Countess Báthory has been accused of many gruesome deeds, it's certain that her baths in blood are only the stuff of legends. However, the Blood Bath is very much a key component to be found in any story in which she is featured, and any stories that feature a Blood Bath without Báthory as a character will often give a ShoutOut to the legends about her.

The {{Trope Maker|s}} derives from legends surrounding the Hungarian "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Báthory, a sixteenth- and seventeenth-century SerialKiller purported to have bathed in the blood of {{virgin|Sacrifice}}s to [[VainSorceress restore]] her [[FairestOfThemAll beauty]] and [[FountainOfYouth youth]]. While the ''real'' Countess Báthory has been accused of many gruesome deeds, it's certain that her baths in blood are only the stuff of legends. However, the Blood Bath is very much a key component to be found in any story in which she is featured, and any stories that feature a Blood Bath without Báthory as a character will often give a ShoutOut to the legends about her.

The {{Trope Maker|s}} derives from legends surrounding the Hungarian "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Báthory, a sixteenth- and seventeenth-century SerialKiller purported to have bathed in the blood of {{virgin|Sacrifice}}s to [[VainSorceress restore]] her [[FairestOfThemAll beauty]] and [[FountainOfYouth youth]]. While the ''real'' Countess Báthory has been accused of many unpleasant deeds, it's certain that her baths in blood are only the stuff of legends. However, the Blood Bath is very much a key component to be found in any story in which she is featured, and any stories that feature a Blood Bath without Báthory as a character will often give a ShoutOut to the legends about her.

The {{Trope Maker|s}} derives from myths and folklore surrounding 16th Century Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory, who is said to have bathed in the blood of young women and/or [[VirginSacrifice virgins]] in order to restore [[FairestOfThemAll her beauty]] and [[FountainOfYouth her youth]].

While the ''real'' Countess Bathory has been accused of many unpleasant, cruel things, it's certain that her baths in blood are only the stuff of legends. However, the Blood Bath is very much a key component to be found in any story in which she is featured, and any stories that feature a Blood Bath without Bathory as a character will often allude to her motives for doing this (lifted directly from the legends) and may also mention her by name (or, at least, give a character partaking in this a similar-sounding name as a ShoutOut).

* {{Zigzagged|Trope}} with the Franchise/MonsterHigh toys. As they are fashion dolls, one can buy accessory play sets related to beautification that are owned by specific characters. The vampire character gets a high backed, clawfooted tub; however, she is a literal VegetarianVampire and, therefore, bathes in protein and vitamin supplements, rather than blood.

* KarateBears [[http://www.karatebears.com/2011/07/innocent-bath.html like taking baths in the blood of the innocent.]]

[[folder: Anime And Manga]]

* In ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'', it's revealed in a flashback that the [[spoiler: Black Book Club]] bathed in the blood of the [[DarkIsNotEvil innocent demons]] they had slaughtered, mostly ForTheEvulz. The discovery of this (as well as several other factors) [[spoiler:[[StartOfDarkness drove Shinobu Sensui]] [[SanitySlippage batshit]] [[SplitPersonality insane]]]].

* Readers first meet Solomon Ravne from ''ComicBook/CaballisticsInc'' in the middle of one such bath, surrounded by the naked, bleeding corpses the blood had to have come from. [[spoiler: Because Ravne is suggested to be Really700YearsOld]], it may be that such a bath is needed to maintain his age and appearance or prolong his life.

* In ''Film/StayAlive'', the vengeful spirit of Elizabeth Bathory suspends [[spoiler: Abigail]] over an empty bathtub caked in dried blood and threatens to have her bled into the tub, heavily suggesting this trope, but [[spoiler: Hutch saves a Abigail before any bloodletting could occur]].

* In ''Film/TheNeonDemon'' [[spoiler: Ruby, Sarah, and Gigi]] murder [[spoiler: Jesse]], a beautiful and virginal young woman, and not only bathe in her blood but cannibalize her as well. The director and co-writer said he was directly inspired by the tales of Elizabeth Bathory.

* According to events in ''Literature/CountAndCountess'', Elizabeth Bathory's blood baths began as a means to cure her epilepsy. [[spoiler: It didn't work.]]

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[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' has the Everdawn Pool, a powerful magical artifact created by the [[SorcerousOverlord Runelord]] Sorshen. The pool has many powers, but chief among them is the ability to transform the body of one who bathes in it after filling the pool with the blood of several thousand sacrificed sentient beings. The BigBad of ''Curse of the Crimson Throne'', [[spoiler: Queen Ileosa]], intends to become an immortal being this way, [[spoiler: slaughtering much of the population of Korvosa, including her own followers, in the process]].

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[[folder: Web Comics]]

* In ''Webcomic/BeCalm'', Ardois wakes up in one [[spoiler: after hurling a piece of metal through Richard]].

[[folder: Web Original]]

* On ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryFreakshow'', Dandy Mott believes that bathing in people's blood will give him their power. The first onscreen instance of this comes right after he [[spoiler:kills his own mother]], though the fact that [[spoiler:he is covered in blood after killing Andy]] may suggest that he did this then, too.

* A ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' strip published in ''Judge Dredd Mega Special 1995'' concerns a pop singer who retained his youth and good looks through TheDarkArts, human sacrifice, and bathing in blood--the literal blood bath being implied to be the most crucial step in the singer's rejuvenation rituals. Strangely enough, 22nd Century technology has made several means of rejuvenation (including some that are legal) readily available to [[MegaCity Mega-City One]] citizens, which makes it a bit odd to see somebody taking this route, instead.

A character, typically evil or sadistic, immersing themselves in a bathtub filled with blood. Frequently, any blood used for this purpose will be a type of AppliedPhlebotinum that is intended to cause some fantastic effect on the bather.

A character, typically evil or sadistic, immersing oneself in a bathtub filled with blood. Frequently, any blood used for this purpose will be a type of AppliedPhlebotinum that is intended to cause some fantastic effect on the bather.

While the ''real'' Countess Bathory has been accused of many unpleasant, cruel things, it's certain that her baths in blood are only the stuff of legends. However, the Blood Bath is very much a key component to be found in any story in which she is featured, and any stories that feature a Blood Bath without Bathory as a character will often allude to her motives for doing this (lifted directly from the legends) and may also mention her by name (or, at least, give a character partaking in this a similar name as a ShoutOut).

A character, typically evil or sadistic, immersing oneself in a bathtub filled with blood. Frequently, any blood used for this purpose will be a type of AppliedPhlebotinum that is intended to cause some fantastic effect on the bather. Usually, the practical problems with this trope are rarely brought up, such as one particular person only containing around five liters of blood, or blood being a ''coagulant'' (in other words, unless some sort of blood thinner is added, a blood bath will just become a sticky, gelatinous mess).

A character, typically evil or sadistic, immersing oneself in a bathtub filled with blood. Frequently, any blood used for this purpose will be a type of AppliedPhlebotinum that is intended to cause some fantastic effect on the bather.