There’s an entire generation of people who watched “Jaws” way too young—the ’70s and ’80s were a wild time to grow up—and are thus unable to venture into the ocean without breaking into a cold sweat. When some people look out to the sea they see a beautiful ocean ripe for frolicking, swimming and more. When I look all I can see are bloodthirsty Great White sharks waiting behind every wave to catch me unawares, whereupon they’ll rip my flesh apart with multiple rows of razor-sharp teeth, consuming everything but my swim trunks. Steven Spielberg may have created one of the world’s finest action thrillers, but he also planted phobias in millions of people such as myself.
Using an informal show of hands here in the Inked office, 35% of us are afraid of the ocean specifically because of “Jaws.” While the film has the legacy of being the template every summer blockbuster has emulated since 1975, it also really messed up a ton of us!
That being said, as an adult, I love “Jaws” specifically because it scares the absolute hell out of me. Every time I hear John Williams’ iconic score, the little hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. Every time I crack open a Narragansett I picture myself doing so alongside Quint. Any time I feel like I’m unprepared for something, you know I end up saying “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.” Although, as Jersey resident, I’m probably quoting “Clerks” and salsa shark more than “Jaws,” if I’m being honest.
With summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to dive into a gallery of “Jaws” tattoos. On second thought, it’s probably the worst time to do so if you fear the apex predators who life beneath the surface… Well, you already clicked so like the Orca sailing away from Amity Island, it’s too late to turn back. Enjoy this killer collection of “Jaws” tattoos.
