There’s something truly compelling about the idea of a female assassin. On YouTube, click on any clip of a dominant woman, and the related videos will inevitably lead you on a delicious – if slightly worrying – trail of scenes from films and television where attractive women kill their menfolk in ruthless and titillating ways. It’s a fantasy.

In reality, assassination isn’t quite the kick it seems on the screen: it’s just a death, same as any other. Yet in imagination and role-play, it’s undeniably hot. The femme fatale is a sexual meme that excites and inspires. Moreso than ever, the Assassinatrix is moving into the mainstream.

Here’s what The F-Word had to say last year about “Female Assassins All The Rage in Hollywood”:

“In Haywire, Gina Carano plays an assassin whose employers decide to terminate her. An extremely original plot? Perhaps not, but it still looks like one to watch out for, based on the trailer (below).

Incidentally, Carano is a mixed martial artist and used to be a Gladiator.

There seems to be a mini-spate of awesome action films starring women in recent years (Hanna and Salt spring to mind). Hollywood Reporter notes that the plot is also startlingly similar to the forthcoming Colombiana.”

Here are both trailers. Enjoy: