What creature is the Beldam from the movie coraline?

Um, from what I've been told, it is a monster/ witch from Russian folklore that spirits children away. I not exactly sure, but I would love to read about them. It also means 'witch', and 'hag'. By the way, love the movie and the book, but the movie is nothing like the book. Might as well call Coraline Annie and have her stay to have buttons sewn into her eyes. Fudge you, Henry Selick!!