18 ways to show off your love of horror with tattoos

Despite a broader acceptance of tattoos over the years, there are still plenty of people who view tattoos as scary or threatening. For the most part, that is utter bullshit, but sometimes they are—like these 18 pieces of artwork that will haunt your nightmares.

And as unsettling as some of these tattoos might be, you have to admit there is something quite beautiful about all of them...

�� @bmerck_ink at @theseancetattooparlor �� #perfecttattoo #perfectartist #creepy #creepytattoo #realistic #realisticart #realismtattoo #colorrealism #colourrealism #tattoo #tattooed
A photo posted by Perfect Tattoo Artists (@perfecttattooartists) on Sep 28, 2015 at 3:40pm PDT

Bryan Merck

Bristol Pike Bensalem,PA

#horrortattoo #electricink #tattoo #alexnoir #realistictattoo
A photo posted by Alex Noir (@alexxx_noirrr) on Jul 19, 2015 at 7:17am PDT

Alex Chernyshevskiy

Russia

#tattoo#shevbox#shevboxtattoo#shevchenko#spb#tattooart#tattooartist#instatattoo#instaart#ink#art#inkmachine#blackandgraytattoo#tattooinrussia#bnginksociety#tattooistartmag#portrait #colortattoo #kwadron
A photo posted by . Shevchenko Evgeny (@shevboxtattoo) on Jul 10, 2015 at 4:20pm PDT

Shevchenko Evgeny

Russia

#creepytattoo #scary#miedo#terror#lovetattoos #demon#tattoodemon#demongirl#blood #blody #badgirl #bilbao #tattoosbilbao #myrinktattoo #myrink #sextosentidotattoo#tattooartist
A photo posted by Myrink Tattoo (@myrink_tattoo) on Dec 18, 2015 at 4:26pm PST

Myrink Tattoo

Spain

"Itsy bitsy spider climbed the water spout..." #tattoos #3dtattoo #spidertattoo #blackandgreytattoo #realistic #creepytattoo
A photo posted by Mechelle LaMee Thomson (@mechelle_lamee) on Jul 15, 2016 at 9:06pm PDT

Mechelle LaMee

Kalispell, MT

Some fun from last night, on the ankle filler. Original digital artwork by @peterpunkart #realism #realistictattoo #colorportrait #intenzeink #3dtattoo #stephaniechilindrina #horrorfans #horrortattoo #creepytattoo #macabre #denverartist #denvertattoo #bloodytattoo
A photo posted by ��Stephanie Chilindrina Simon�� (@stephaniechilindrina) on Aug 22, 2016 at 7:54am PDT

Stephanie Chilindrina Simon

Ecuador

Something a bit more creepy I tattooed on the side of an elbow a month or so back from a low res image. #tattoo #truthbetold #inked #creepy #zombie #zombietattoo #menwithtattoos #elbowtattoo #creepytattoo #blackandgreytattoo
A photo posted by Truth be Told (Ruan Coetzee) (@truthbetold.today) on Aug 24, 2016 at 1:15am PDT

Ruan Coetzee

South Africa

Bad picture! #zombie #neumünster #tattoo #germany #realistik #colortattoos
A photo posted by Zsolt Gömöri (@tattooshorty) on Mar 28, 2015 at 3:01am PDT

Zsolt Gömöri

Hungary

#allink #beast #death #demons #grey #horror #ink #inkster #killer #mad #monster #portrait #trouble had fun today
A post shared by tattoomini (@tattoomini) on Aug 29, 2015 at 6:38pm PDT