Bloody Mary and 5 Other Phantom Femme Fatales

Bloody Mary and La Llorona are among two of the most popular paranormal folklore legends involving women. But there are also some other frightening female supernatural entities in myths, legends, and horror stories from around the world. Since March is Women’s History Month, and these phantom femme fatales have endured in pop culture history, I thought their stories would be fun to explore. So let’s start unpacking them.

Bloody Mary

I recently read that the legend of Bloody Mary hails from the U.K., but I have no way of verifying that. It’s possible, but who really knows when or where her legend first originated? Or if a real historical figure inspired her legend, as some believe. Contenders include Mary I of England, who was nicknamed “Bloody Mary” for burning religious dissenters at the stake during her reign, and the Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory, who bathed in the blood of virgins.

Something else I never appreciated until recently was that Bloody Mary’s appearance doesn’t necessarily portend malevolent results. It’s more a form of divination. What might Bloody Mary show you? Your future? Or your death?

Although, that’s also where the legend goes awry. Supposedly you can conjure her after looking in a mirror and chanting her name for a specified number of times (some versions say as little as three, others say 13 is the magic number). Tame versions say she’ll manifest screaming. (Covered in blood, optional.) Others say she’ll try to harm you by either scratching your eyes out, drinking your blood, or stealing your soul.

I’m not sure what you’re supposed to get out of it if she doesn’t do that. It sounds more like a thrill-seeking dare, which is, of course, what it’s become. And after decades of giggling adolescent girls intruding on your supernatural space, you might scream, too.

La Llorona

Some say La Llorona, or “the weeping woman,” wanders riverbanks crying for her lost children. Some versions say she killed them, while others say they were taken from her. But she’s not one you want to seek out because her presence is always a harbinger of something untoward.

If you see or hear her, it portends either your death or an impending tragedy. Her victims range from anyone out after dark by themselves to single men, whom she may merely frighten, to bad children, whom she punishes.

Mostly she’s a cautionary ghost tale. Be good, behave, and never wander around alone at night. Solid life advice you can’t go wrong with!

The Banshee

Banshees are also harbingers. To hear the wail of this legend from Irish folklore means either you or someone in your family will soon die. (Between Banshees and La Llorona, it’s enough to want to walk around some places with earplugs in, isn’t it?)

Baba Yaga

She’s basically a Slavic version of the little old witch who lives in the woods. Or maybe she’s the basis for the child-eating witch in the fairytale Hansel and Gretel. When the scary versions of her tale are told, that’s her purpose—to eat kids. But sometimes, she’s good and helps out the hero of the story, too.

Black Annis

Personally, I think this “bogeywoman” is one of the most frightful of the phantom femme fatales on this list. She hails from English folklore and is described as a hag with a blue face, iron claws, and an appetite for human flesh, particularly children. After she eats unsuspecting victims she finds wandering alone after dark (sound familiar?), she wears their skins around her waist.

Again, like with La Llorona, she’s mostly a cautionary ghost tale. At least, that’s what we hope…

Kuntilanak/Pontianak/Yakshi

A Kuntilanak (Indonesian)/Pontianak (Malay)/Yakshi (Hindu) is the same thing: often a long-haired woman dressed in white who may or may not appear as a pregnant woman. Because she has fangs and claws, she’s sometimes considered a vampire-like creature.

Her main targets are men whose internal organs she feasts on. But she’s easily avoided. Just be a good person and don’t do anything a vengeful spirit would want to get revenge for.

But if you can’t help yourself, never go out alone during a full moon. That’s the only time she appears. But if you must, pay attention to your senses. If you see a woman with long, dark hair with red eyes in a white dress and also hear a baby crying or smell a decaying corpse, run.

Check-In

If your safety, sanity, and soul could be guaranteed, which phantom femme fatale would you most like to meet?