The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

A Banshee is usually a semi corporeal being that is a spirit of a woman or a female demon that kills by screaming in a high pitch. in Irish legend, a banshee is a female spirit that wails when someone is about to die.

"The story of the bean-sidhe began as a fairy woman keening at the death of important personages. In later stories, the appearance of the banshee could foretell death. Banshees were said to appear for particular Irish families, though which families made it onto this list varied depending on who was telling the story. Stories of Banshees were also prevalent in the West Highlands of Scotland.
The banshee can appear in a variety of guises. Most often she appears as an ugly, frightening hag, but she can also appear as a stunningly beautiful woman of any age that suits her. In some tales, the figure who first appears to be a "banshee" is later revealed to be the Irish battle goddess, the Morrígan. The hag may also appear as a washer-woman, or bean-nighe (washing woman), and is seen washing the blood stained clothes or armour of those who are about to die.
Although not always seen, her mourning call is heard, usually at night when someone is about to die and usually around woods. In 1437, King James I of Scotland was approached by an Irish seer or banshee who foretold his murder at the instigation of the Earl of Atholl. There are records of several prophets believed to be incarnate banshees attending the great houses of Ireland and the courts of local Irish kings. In some parts of Leinster, she is referred to as the bean chaointe (keening woman) whose wail can be so piercing that it shatters glass. In Kerry in the southwest of Ireland, her keen is experienced as a "low, pleasant singing"; in Tyrone in the north, as "the sound of two boards being struck together"; and on Rathlin Island as "a thin, screeching sound somewhere between the wail of a woman and the moan of an owl".
The banshee may also appear in a variety of other forms, such as that of a hooded crow, stoat, hare and weasel - animals associated in Ireland with witchcraft." from Wikipedia.

Banshees these days are well known for their villainy, as they are often depicted as antagonists.

in the tv show called charmed, Phoebe Halliwell is turned into a banshee, the banshee in the charmed universe is able to kill with its scream or turn witches into banshees. she was saved by love, The love for her half demon boyfriend, Cole Turner otherwise known as Belthazor.

The film "Darkness falls" has a banshee like monster, The creature is a spirit of a woman who used to give children money for the teeth they lost. after being unjustly killed because she was accused of being a witch she rose from the grave and became a killer tooth fairy who murdered those who dared look upon her face. Banshees in legend are said to be a fairy or at least connected to them.

The video game Fable had an enemy called Screamers who kills by screeching in a high-pitch and thus sucking the soul of anyone near them.

Banshees also appeared in the sequel fable II in which they can read your mind and use your knowledge against you.
They will attempt to make you doubt yourself by telling you everything you don't want to hear.

Banshees made an appearance in the video game Devil May Cry as masked semi-corporeal beings connected to Death. Their masks were their weak spot.


Banshees can fly and phase through solid objects. they wear capes or ragged robes and sometimes wear a mask. they signature ability is their high-pitched scream which can shatter glass and kill.they are normally semi-corporeal as they can still grab or attack solid objects yet can go through things as will and be immune to normal physical attacks. In charmed a person's blood vessels actually exploded from the scream.