Bloody Mary

In Toledo, Ohio, three girlfriends decide to play with the American urban legend of "Bloody Mary", saying her name three times to a mirror. None of them dies, but the father of the host. Dean and Sam read the weird obituary in a newspaper and decide to investigate the corpse, and the coroner's assistant tells that the man died of internal bleed in the brain and also that both eyes blew. They contact the girls, and sooner they find that Bloody Mary is chasing people that had caused the death of some other person, and they try to find a way to stop her.

I have recently seen Mary Lambert's "Urban Legends: Bloody Mary" and it seems that there is an urban legend in USA about this fiend "Bloody Mary" that is summoned when a person speaks her name three times in front of or to a mirror. In the best episode of this series to now, Dean and Sam face this evil spirit in a great battle, where there is a hook for new mysteries about the former relationship of Sam and Jessica. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Bloody Mary"

The fifth and arguably coolest episode of "Supernatural" thus far handles about one of the most common urban legends; "Bloody Mary". On their continuing search for their vanished father, the evil-fighting brothers Sam and Dean read a peculiar obituary in the local newspapers of Toledo, Ohio and promptly decide to stick around and investigate. Bloody Mary normally always appears when you say her name in front of a mirror three times, and she kills the person who summoned her by making their eyes explode. But in this case the victim himself didn't repeat her cursed name, but his teenage daughter did when she was playing "Truth or Dare" with a couple of girlfriends. Reasons enough for Sam and Dean to research the true origin of the macabre urban legend and discover the supernatural significance of ordinary mirrors. A second victim learns them that Bloody Mary exclusively kills people who're hiding a dark secret and Sam develops a plan to lure the restless ghost into a trap. This simple one-hour TV-episode of "Supernatural" is much better than all three "Urban Legends"-slashers combined, as it's definitely scarier and more involving. The brothers' methods to reveal the true origin behind ancient and naturalized folklore legends and urban legends is a lot more insightful and compelling than watching a horribly masked maniac stalking a bunch of yelling beauty-queens with a meat cleaver. This episode also gives a handful of 'educational' trivia details about the supernatural qualities of mirrors (how they're able to capture the soul of a deceased person and why the mirrors of a haunted house should always remain covered, etc…) and it effectively enlarges the mystery surrounding the death of Sam's girlfriend in episode one. The acting performances of Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles get better with each episode and "Bloody Mary" also contains some impressive special effects and uncanny jump-moments. "Bloody Mary" is a splendid entry in an even more splendid show.

Its like a typical mirror hauting. Engaging and fun

What I think makes this series work so far, including of course the excellent direction, writing, and acting, is that they take the subject of the story VERY seriously.

I mean, how many people could take a simple, universally known urban legend, almost a child's scary story really, and handle it in such a way that creates a truly suspenseful, quite effective Supernatural Thriller?

I think that really testifies to the talent behind this show (at least so far, I just started it... : )

Of course having some of the very best creative minds coming from the mind blowingly awesome X-Files, I'm sure doesn't hurt at all.

But, with so many modern supposed 'Horror' stories being portrayed with varying levels of self referential, wink-wink approaches, to me anyway I find it extremely satisfying to see a story like this executed in such an excellent manner.

After being so impressed with the last episode and now this one, I'm REALLY looking very much forward to seeing how this show develops. At first, I was thinking that it was just going to be some kind of superficial 'Monster of the Week' series. And, that is true. But, like most memorable films and shows, it is the WAY it is done that makes all the difference...

"Bloody Mary," the fifth episode of Supernatural's first season, created by Eric Kripke and directed by Peter Ellis, is a chilling installment that effectively leverages the urban legend of Bloody Mary to deliver a terrifying narrative. This episode stands out for its ability to blend horror elements with emotional character development, particularly focusing on Sam's guilt over Jessica's death.

The narrative begins with a haunting scene where teenage girls at a slumber party dare each other to say "Bloody Mary" three times in front of a mirror. The legend suggests that doing so will summon Mary, who will scratch out your eyes. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Bloody Mary targets individuals haunted by guilt over past actions. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) investigate these mysterious occurrences while dealing with their own personal demons-Sam grappling with visions related to Jessica's death and Dean trying to protect his brother from self-blame.

Peter Ellis' direction skillfully captures both tension and vulnerability throughout the episode. The cinematography enhances suspenseful moments-such as when characters confront their reflections in mirrors-while also highlighting comedic elements like Dean's protective nature towards Sam. However, some critics argue that certain plot points feel contrived or unexplained; for instance, why Bloody Mary can be confined or destroyed through one specific mirror when she can appear in any reflective surface.

Jensen Ackles shines as Dean Winchester in this episode by portraying not only his usual bravado but also deep concern for Sam's well-being as he struggles with guilt over Jessica's death. Jared Padalecki delivers strong performances as Sam confronts his past while supporting both their investigation into supernatural forces at play.

Thematically, "Bloody Mary" explores themes of guilt and redemption-highlighted through both the victims' secrets and Sam's unresolved feelings about Jessica's death-and brotherly love-emphasized by Dean's unwavering support for Sam despite his fear. It introduces an iconic urban legend within Supernatural, making it one of the most memorable episodes due to its chilling portrayal of Bloody Mary crawling out of mirrors.

"Bloody Mary" showcases how Supernatural masterfully weaves together horror legends with character-driven narratives to create compelling storytelling. By exploring complex emotions like guilt alongside terrifying supernatural entities, this episode demonstrates why Supernatural remains such an enduring series even years after its initial airing-a testament to its ability to captivate audiences across generations through timeless themes intertwined with modern-day fears.