Reviewed and updated: October 31, 2022 by Jamie Wilson BA
If you want to get inked with a horror tattoo that will give everyone the creeps, then this list of taboo tattoo characters is for you.
Horror films have always been a recipe for success at the box office, because who doesn’t love a good scare!
However, not all dark characters have enjoyed widespread popularity over the years. But some have carved their way into our hearts (and nightmares!) with their chilling brutality and gruesome depictions.
Gore tattoo enthusiasts have always queued to get their favorite characters tattooed on their bodies. However, donning one of these taboo tattoo designs can mean many things – maybe you are a fan of the taboo character or the iconic horror franchise, maybe you admire that you want to show your love for the horror genre or iconic evil characters . Or maybe you admire the weirdness of these characters, how life pushes them to the sidelines until they faint and then start taking matters into their own hands.
The evil goblin horror taboo tattoo
As part of Irish folklore, leprechauns are usually old men who dress up as singing, merry cobblers. They are usually depicted smoking pipes and glasses of beer, guarding pots of gold at the end of a rainbow. They aren’t necessarily evil, but there is plenty of folklore that treats them as cunning and mischievous creatures. Then came the 1993 film Leprechaun, in which Warwick Davis played the role of this dark, brutal, and downright evil goblin who terrorized and murdered people. All of the gory and gruesome murders helped the taboo character fit right into the horror genre and develop a cult following of his own. If you are a fan of the franchise then this evil and somewhat terrifying tattoo is perfect for you.
The ghost face taboo tattoo with Halloween themes
Well, we’ve all seen one of the Scream movies in one way or another. For the uninitiated, it’s a slasher movie where one of the characters murders people wearing a black hood and white Ghostface mask. Each film ends with a classic twist that reveals the killer’s identity. This tattoo depicts the taboo character holding her dagger in a Halloween postcard. The addition of the familiar Halloween tropes, like carved pumpkins, bats, and cobwebs, add to the flair of the season, making it a perfect tattoo for the horror festival.
The realistic Hellraiser Pinhead Taboo Tattoo
The Hellraiser franchise debuted its first installment in 1987. Since then, it has set the standard for nightmarish film genres around the world with its gruesome and gory portrayal of horror character Cenobite Pinhead. The terrifying villain with his disturbing getup has left a lasting impression on the minds of millions of pulp camp enthusiasts worldwide. Fans are determined to keep the iconic figure alive by getting ink work done on their bodies and hence the huge demand for pinhead tattoos. This taboo tattoo brilliantly renders the character in a realistic manner in his striking appearance with the protruding pins and disturbing skin mask. The inkwork is sure to turn heads when you enter the room and put it on.
The Awful Chucky Doll Taboo Tattoo
Ever since the release of the first Chucky doll movie, Child’s Play, in 1988, the evil doll has enjoyed widespread popularity among horror tattoo enthusiasts. The premise is very intriguing as serial killer Charles Lee Ray transforms his soul and consciousness into the little doll, turning her into a tiny assassin. The murderous doll’s cult following has been steadfast for decades, and pulp camp fans are lining up to get Chucky Doll tattoos, as if wanting the beloved taboo characters to be permanently engraved on their minds and bodies. Although the character is easily recognizable due to its highly distinguishable features, there are many Chucky doll tattoo designs. However, the most popular tattoo design is that of the doll breaking out of its skin. This Chucky doll tattoo design shows the same thing coupled with the fearsome eyes and sinister smile that will give goosebumps to anyone who sees it.
Pennywise clown taboo tattoo on leg
Any list of horror tattoo designs will be incomplete without including at least one or two characters written by the genre’s maestro, Stephen King. And what better way to add to the list than the infamous killer clown, Pennywise! We know plenty of people who are horribly averse to the idea of a clown in general, let alone a fanatical clown spirit worshiping children. However, Pennywise’s popularity began with the adaptation of King’s writings into the 1990 television mini-series and peaked with the release of the new IT film series that came out a few years ago. This Pennywise tattoo blends the terrifying face of the killer clown with the quintessential boy holding a balloon with Pennywise’s face etched on it.
The creepy Billy the Puppet taboo tattoo on the shoulder
Most of the taboo tattoo characters on this list scream brutality and blood while slaughtering their victims. However, few have matched the barbarism displayed by the Saw franchise’s antagonist, Billy the Puppet. The character soon garnered a cult following, forcing producers to release sequels even 15 years later, with the most recent installment being Spiral, released a few years ago. Horror and gore fans have lined up for sports inkwork inspired by the movies, with Billy the Puppet being the fan favorite. This taboo tattoo shows Billy riding his famous red bicycle as a giant depiction of the doll looms in the background.
The greyscale leatherface horror taboo tattoo
2022 marks the 48th anniversary of one of the most controversial yet terrifying horror films of all time – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. When the film was first released in 1974, the gore and violence of the antagonist, a cannibal named Leatherface, proved too much for a large segment of audiences, the enduring public outrage and many countries banning the film citing the promotion of violence became. Countries such as Australia and the UK would not allow the film to be screened decades after its original release, even after it was commercially successful. However, many film directors later admitted that they were influenced by many of the film’s scares and cinematic aspects. So if you are aiming for a spooky and controversial tattoo then this grayscale leatherface tattoo is perfect for you.
The hyper-realistic Freddy Krueger Tabboo Tattoo
Freddy Krueger, the antagonist of one of the most famous horror film franchises of all time, A Nightmare on Elm Street, was a murderous sociopath who preyed on the teenagers of the fictional town of Springwood, Ohio. When he was murdered by a violent mob, his evil spirit continued to haunt innocent children in their dreams, the effects of which carried over into the real world. An instant hit among horror fans, Freddy has been featured in a number of sequels and a television anthology miniseries. This vibrant tattoo depicts the taboo character in his usual elements, played by Robert Englund donning the famous hat and gloves with protruding claws.
The Terrifying Jason Voorhees Taboo Tattoo
Friday the 13th is known among horror fans for being the ill-fated day of the year. The film franchise of the same name contributed to the spooks with its portrayal of a masked killer murdering teenagers out there. The films starred Jason Voorhees as a troubled teenager who was bullied by classmates at his school. However, the death of his mother was the last straw and turned him into a monstrous criminal who murders people. Jason wore a hockey mask to hide his facial deformities as well as his identity, and the mask became a cult following among slasher flick enthusiasts. Fans adorned tattoos of the masked killer with his variety of weapons used to kill his victims, such as axes, machetes and various other tools. This Jason Voorhees tattoo shows him wielding an ax beneath the large depiction 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 screen. Fans of the “Halloween” franchise claim Myers is second to none when it comes to being evil, and his mask is a chilling reminder of the cold and stoic composure he maintains while killing his victims in cold blood. While there are a multitude of variations on Michael Myers tattoos, the most common of which are the photorealistic ones, this particular design features Myers using the classic black and white ink colors. Go for this tattoo if you want to show your love for one of the scariest characters to ever grace the big screen!
While this specially curated list aims to include some of the best taboo characters to grace screen, it is by no means exhaustive. Also check out other examples like Taboo Tattoo Anime Characters and Taboo Tattoo Anime Female Characters.
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