Ghost Story - also known as Circle of Fear - is a horror anthology TV series produced by legendary horror director and producer William Castle. A competitor to fellow horror anthology Night Gallery, Ghost Story is notable for the talent both behind and in front of the screen. Writers for the series included Richard Matheson, D. C. Fontana, and Robert Bloch, while actors included Jason Robards, David Soul, Patty Duke, John Astin, Jodie Foster, Janet Leigh, Martin Sheen, and many others.
Initially, the series was hosted by Winston Essex (Sebastian Cabot), the owner of the mysterious hotel Mansfield House who provided opening and closing narration. However, due to low ratings the series was retooled - Essex's segments were removed and the series was renamed Circle of Fear.
Tropes in this series:
- Accidental Murder: In "The Dead We Leave Behind", when his wife Joanna decides to leave him and tries to unplug his radio, Elliot Brent shoves her out of the way and winds up inadvertently breaking her neck. He's horrified… and then immediately buries the body and goes on to murder her lover in cold blood.
- Asshole Victim: Elliot Brent from "The Dead We Leave Behind". He's snide and contemptuous even before he murders his adulterous wife Joanna and her lover, making it rather fitting when they return from the dead to make him pay. Joanna also counts as this, having been an emotionally abusive Jerkass herself.
- Big "SHUT UP!": As Elliot attacks his haunted television with an axe in "The Dead We Leave Behind", he angrily screams at it to shut up.
- Came Back Wrong: Joanna Brent and her lover in "The Dead We Leave Behind" return from the dead after being killed by Joanna's husband Elliot as vengeful revenants.
- Deranged Park Ranger: Elliot Brent, the Villain Protagonist of "The Dead We Leave Behind", is a park ranger who murders his wife in a fit of rage and goes on to do the same to her lover.
- Eldritch Location: It's hinted in "The Dead We Leave Behind" that all the supernatural goings-on are the work of the land itself, which has strange mystical properties that cause the dead to rise.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Elliott Brent from "The Dead We Leave Behind" may be a murderer, but he angrily points out to Joanna that her constantly turning off his radio means he won't be able to respond if there's an emergency.
- Faux Affably Evil: Elliott in "The Dead We Leave Behind" is friendly and amiable all while he covers up his murder of his cheating wife and her lover.
- Haunted Technology: Elliot in "The Dead We Leave Behind" is plagued by a haunted television that shows snippets of both the past and the future - including his impending death.
- Jerkass: Elliott and Joanna Brent from "The Dead We Leave Behind". Elliott is snide and contemptuous, while Joanna is short-tempered, spiteful, and deliberately screws with Elliott's radio equipment despite him pointing out he needs it operational in case there's an emergency.
- Sanity Slippage: Elliott snaps completely in "The Dead We Leave Behind" when an undead Joanna and her lover come after him, attacking his haunted television with an axe and screaming like a maniac.
