Scaring people without risk of physical harm is fine, but causing bleeding and bruising to someone's face as a 'challenge' is absurd. It crosses a critical line and steps you on to a slippery slope. If we accept causing injury, how far can we go? Are you willing to have a 1kg weight dropped on your foot? 10kg? How much blood can we draw out of your face or how much bruising can we inflict on your face before it's not acceptable? Maybe you could argue that a risk of injury is acceptable, such as in an obstacle course where a participant may fall, but for someone to have to accept continued injury while remaining passive in the situation, as a 'challenge' is clearly wrong.
It's unfortunate for snakes and snake enthusiasts that snakes were portrayed in this way.