Ep 5. Ed Gein's Cauldron and The Crying Boy Paintings

In the fifth episode of Deadly Possessions, viewers are taken on a journey to explore two notoriously haunted items: Ed Gein's Cauldron and The Crying Boy paintings. Ed Gein was a serial killer who made headlines in the late 1950s after authorities discovered that he had been using body parts of his victims to create eerie household items such as furniture, belts, and even a cauldron. The cauldron is said to have been used by Gein to cook parts of his victims, so it's no wonder that it is considered a cursed item.

The episode begins with the host, Zak Bagans, providing an overview of Ed Gein's horrific crimes and how the cauldron is believed to have played a significant role in his ritualistic murders. Zak then takes viewers along with him as he sets out to meet with a collector who possesses the cauldron. The collector describes how he came across the cauldron and tells Zak that he has experienced strange and unexplainable occurrences since acquiring it.

Throughout the episode, Zak and the collector discuss the various theories and rumors surrounding the cauldron's alleged curse. Local legends speak of demonic activity, strange occurrences, and tragedies that have befallen those who have come into contact with it. To test the validity of these claims and the cauldron's curse, Zak and the collector take the cauldron to a psychic medium who conducts a séance.

The medium picks up on intense evil energy surrounding the cauldron, confirming what many believed to be true all along. Zak ends the episode by highlighting the importance of respecting cursed objects and the potential danger they can pose to those who come into contact with them.

In the second half of the episode, Zak delves into the story behind The Crying Boy paintings, a series of paintings that are said to curse anyone who owns them or displays them in their home. The paintings depict a young boy crying and became popular in the 1950s and 60s. It's unclear who the artist is, and the origin story behind the paintings remains a mystery to this day.

The episode takes viewers along with Zak as he meets with a collector who possesses the paintings. The collector reveals that he has experienced several unexplainable occurrences since acquiring the paintings and believes that they are indeed cursed. Zak and the collector then decide to test the validity of the curse by conducting an experiment.

They bring in a group of people who have no knowledge of the cursed paintings and ask them to rate their level of fear and anxiety while looking at a series of paintings on the wall. Amongst these paintings are the cursed "Crying Boy" paintings, but the participants do not know which ones they are. Zak then reveals to the participants which paintings are cursed, and the results are profound. The individuals who viewed the cursed paintings first reported feeling unease and anxiety without even knowing why.

Zak ends the episode by concluding that while the stories behind Ed Gein's cauldron and The Crying Boy paintings may be moral tales designed to discourage people from collecting such items, the experiences of those who have encountered them cannot be ignored. Deadly Possessions season 1 episode 5 leaves viewers with a chilling warning that cursed objects are not to be taken lightly.