Ep 1. Return to the Horrifying Winchester Mansion

BuzzFeed Unsolved: Supernatural is a web series that takes you on a journey to explore some of the scariest and unexplained supernatural events and hauntings across the world. In season 5, episode 1, named "Return to the Horrifying Winchester Mansion," we see Ryan and Shane return to the notorious and eerie Winchester Mansion in San Jose, California.

For those who are not familiar, the Winchester Mansion is a sprawling, maze-like, and eclectic house built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of William Wirt Winchester. Sarah embarked on a never-ending construction project on the advice of a medium, who convinced her that the souls of people who were killed by Winchester's rifles were seeking revenge on her family. Over decades, she added various rooms, staircases, and secret passageways to confuse the spirits, and she continued to work on it until her death in 1922. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and also regarded as one of the most haunted houses in the world.

Ryan and Shane previously visited the Winchester Mansion in season 1, but their investigation was cut short when they were unexpectedly kicked out of the house. This time, they are prepared with better equipment, a clearer plan, and a more focused approach. As they set foot in the creepy house, their nerves are already on edge, and they begin to document whatever strange and unexplainable things happen to them.

The episode is divided into two parts. The first part is a daytime investigation of the house, where Ryan and Shane explore various rooms, hallways, and hidden corners while narrating their experiences and providing historical context. They talk about Sarah Winchester's obsession with the number 13 and how it manifests in the house's design, such as rooms with 13 windows, 13 steps, or 13 elements. They also point out the eerie atmosphere of some of the rooms, such as the séance room, the dead-end hallway, and the door to nowhere. Throughout the daytime investigation, the duo doesn't encounter much that's notable, apart from some creaking noises and unexplained temperature drops.

The second part of the episode is a nighttime investigation, which is when things get much creepier and spookier. Ryan and Shane gear up for the night with night vision cameras, EMF detectors, digital recorders, and spirit boxes. They begin in the basement of the house, where Sarah Winchester reportedly communicated with the spirits. The darkness and claustrophobia of the basement quickly get to them, and Ryan comments on how uncomfortable and unsettling he feels. They do not encounter any paranormal activity in the basement, but as they move upstairs, things start to get interesting.

In one of the rooms, they hear a loud bang that seems to come from a locked closet. They investigate the closet but find nothing unusual. However, when they close the closet door, the bang happens again. They get increasingly nervous and decide to try communicating with the spirits using the spirit box. They ask some questions, and the spirit box produces some puzzling responses, such as "he shot them" and "sister." They also pick up some strange EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) that sound like eerie whispers and screams.

Throughout the night, Ryan and Shane have several more encounters that make them question whether they are truly alone in the house. They hear footsteps, see shadows, and feel sudden rushes of cold air. They also notice that their equipment is acting up, with the EMF detector going off and on and the digital recorder playing distorted noises. Ryan and Shane handle these experiences with their usual mix of humor and skepticism, but it's clear that they are both freaked out by the end.

Overall, the "Return to the Horrifying Winchester Mansion" episode is a spine-chilling and engrossing exploration of one of the most haunted places in the world. It's a testament to the show's format and the dynamic between Ryan and Shane that they can make even the most skeptical viewers question their beliefs about the supernatural. The episode is perfect for fans of ghost stories, haunted houses, and paranormal investigations, and it's guaranteed to give you goosebumps and make you check under your bed before going to sleep.