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If you are looking to get inked with a horror tattoo that is sure to give everyone the spooks, then this list of taboo tattoo characters is for you.
Horror movies have always been a sure recipe for success at the box office because who does not love a good scare!
However, not all dark characters have enjoyed immense popularity over the years. But some have made their way into our hearts (and nightmares!) with their spine-chilling brutality and gruesome depictions.
Gore tattoo enthusiasts have always lined up to get their favorite characters inked on their bodies. However, donning any of these taboo tattoo designs can have a lot of meanings – maybe you are a fan of the taboo character or the iconic horror franchise, maybe you admire you want to show your love for the horror genre or iconic evil characters. Or maybe you admire the craziness of these characters, of how life pushes them to the edge until they topple over, and then start to take things into their own hands.
The Wicked Leprechaun Horror Taboo Tattoo
A part of the Irish folklore, leprechauns are usually old men masquerading as singing, jovial cobblers. They are usually depicted with smoking pipes and glasses of ale, guarding pots of gold at the end of a rainbow. They are not necessarily evil, but there are many folklores where they are treated as sly and mischievous creatures. Then came the 1993 movie ‘Leprechaun’, where Warwick Davis played the role of this dark, brutal, and completely evil leprechaun who terrorized and murdered people. All the gory and gruesome murders helped the taboo character fit right into the horror genre and develop a cult following of its own. If you are a fan of the franchise, then this evil and somewhat terrifying tattoo is perfect for you.
The Halloween-Themed Ghostface Taboo Tattoo
Well, all of us have watched one of the ‘Scream’ movies, one way or the other. For the uninitiated, it is a slasher movie where one of the characters murder people dressed in a black hood and a white Ghostface mask. Every film ends with a classic twist revealing the identity of the murderer. This tattoo shows the taboo character holding its dagger in a Halloween-themed postcard. The addition of the familiar Halloween tropes, such as carved pumpkins, bats, and cobwebs, adds to the flavor of the season and makes it a perfect tattoo for the horror festival.
The Realistic Hellraiser Pinhead Taboo Tattoo
The ‘Hellraiser’ franchise debuted with its first installment in 1987. Since then, it has set the benchmark for nightmarish movie genres worldwide with its gruesome and gory depiction of the horror character Cenobite Pinhead. The terrifying villain, with its disturbing getup, has left a permanent imprint in the minds of millions of pulp camp enthusiasts worldwide. The fans are determined to keep the cult figure alive through ink works on their bodies and hence the tremendous demand for Pinhead tattoos. This taboo tattoo brilliantly depicts the character in its distinctive appearance, with the protruding pins and disturbing skin mask, in a realistic manner. The inkwork is sure to turn some heads when you walk into the room donning it.
The Horrifying Chucky Doll Taboo Tattoo
Ever since the release of the first Chucky doll movie, ‘Child’s Play’ in 1988, the evil doll enjoys raging popularity among horror tattoo enthusiasts. The premise is very intriguing, with the serial killer Charles Lee Ray transforming his soul and consciousness into the little doll, turning it into a pint-sized assassin. The cult following of the murdering doll has remained unwavering for decades with pulp camp fans lining up to get Chucky doll tattoos as if to permanently etch the popular taboo characters into their minds and bodies. Even though the character is easily recognizable owing to its heavily distinguishable features, Chucky doll tattoo designs are in abundance. However, the most popular tattoo design is that of the doll breaking out of its skin. This Chucky doll tattoo design portrays the same, coupled with the terrifying eyes and eery smile that is sure to give creeps to anyone who sees it.
Pennywise Clown Taboo Tattoo On Leg
Any horror tattoo design list will be incomplete without the incorporation of at least a character or two written by the maestro of the genre, Stephen King. And what better to add to the list than the infamous killer clown, Pennywise! We know a lot of people that are terribly aversed to the idea of any clown in general, let alone a fanatic clown spirit that prays on children. However, the popularity of Pennywise began with the transformation of the writings of King to the 1990 television miniseries and peaked with the release of the new IT film franchise that came out a couple of years ago. This Pennywise tattoo couples the terrifying face of the killer clown, with the quintessential imagery of a boy holding a balloon with Pennywise’s face imprinted in it.
The Scary Billy the Puppet Taboo Tattoo On Shoulder
Most of the taboo tattoo characters on this list scream brutality and gore as they go around butchering their victims. However, few could surpass the barbarity shown by the antagonist of the ‘Saw’ franchise – Billy the Puppet. The character soon attained a cult following that compels producers to churn out sequels even 15 years down the lane, the latest edition being ‘Spiral’ that released a couple of years ago. Horror and gore fans have lined up to sport inkwork inspired by the movies, with Billy the Puppet being the fan favorite. This taboo tattoo depicts Billy riding his famous red cycle as a giant depiction of the puppet looms in the background.
The Grayscale Leatherface Horror Taboo Tattoo
2022 marks the 48th anniversary of one of the most controversial yet terrifying horror movies of all time – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The gore and violence produced by the antagonist, a cannibal named Leatherface proved to be too much for a large section of the audience when the film first came out in 1974. As a result, many movie halls were compelled to stop screening the movie due to the ongoing public outrage and many countries banned the film charged with promoting violence. Countries like Australia and Britain did not allow the movie to be screened decades after the film was originally released even after being commercially successful. Yet, many film directors, later on, admitted that they were influenced by many horrors and cinematic aspects of the film. Hence, if you are aiming for a scary and controversial tattoo, then this grayscale Leatherface tattoo is perfect for you.
The Hyper-Realistic Freddy Krueger Tabboo Tattoo
The antagonist of one of the most famous horror movie franchises of all time, ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’, Freddy Krueger was a murdering sociopath who preyed on the teenagers of the fictitious town of Springwood in Ohio. When murdered by a violent mob, his evil spirit continued to prey on innocent children in their dreams whose implications were carried on into the real world. Freddy became an instant hit among the horror fans and got featured in a number of sequels and as well as a television anthology miniseries. This vibrant tattoo depicts the taboo character in its usual elements, played by Robert Englund, donning the famous hat and the gloves with claws protruding out.
The Terrifying Jason Voorhees Taboo Tattoo
Friday, the 13th is famous among horror fans for being an inauspicious day of the year. The film franchise of the same name added to the spooks with its portrayal of a masked killer out there to murder teenagers. The films depicted Jason Voorhees as a disturbed teenager who was bullied by classmates in his school. However, the death of his mother was the last straw and it turned him into a monstrous criminal murdering people. Jason wore a hockey mask to hide his facial deformities as well as his identity and the mask became a cult among slasher flick enthusiasts. Fans adorned tattoos of the mask-adorned killer with his multitude of weapons used to kill his victims, such as axes, machetes, and various other tools. This Jason Voorhees tattoo depicts him brandishing an ax under the big portrayal of the iconic hockey mask.
The Grayscale Michael Myers Portrait Taboo Tattoo
Michael Myers remains, undoubtedly, one of the most iconic and terrifying evil characters ever portrayed on the silver screen. Fans of the ‘Halloween’ film franchise claim Myers to be unparalleled when it comes to being evil and his mask is a frightening reminder of the cold and stoic composure he retains while killing his victims in cold blood. While there remains a multitude of variations when it comes to Michael Myers tattoos, the most common being the photo-realistic ones, this particular design portrays Myers with the help of classic ink colors, black and white. Go for this tattoo if you want to show your love for one of the most frightening characters to ever grace the big screen!
While this specially curated list aims to include some of the best taboo characters shown on the silver screen, it is by no means exhaustive. Be sure to check out other examples, such as taboo tattoo anime characters and taboo tattoo anime female characters.
Feature Image from Pinterest – Want your tattoo to look brighter? Try “tattoo balm”
