Circle of Fear: Dark Vengeance

Circle of Fear is a 1973 paranormal TV series, the second season of Ghost Story. The next episode is "Dark Vengeance" directed by Herschel Daugherty and stars Kim Darby, Martin Sheen and Shelly Novack. 

Frank works in construction and finds a mysterious box that he takes home. Unable to open it, his wife Cindy begins suffering nightmares about an eerie hobby horse. Once the box is opened, there's a toy horse inside that looks like the one in Cindy's dreams. Strange things happen and the toy horse seems to be growing in size and appears dangerous.

The idea of a toy horse for subject of a scary story is original and actually very creepy. Many people have claimed to be terrified of this episode. Usually memories of seeing it when they were children brands this being a very creepy episode. The "ghost" of the toy horse and it's powers is quite sinister, although many things needed known. 

I rate this a dark strawberry for giving out decent creepiness.

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Circle of Fear: Death's Head

Circle of Fear is the second season of Ghost Story. The first episode is "Death's Head" directed by James Neilson and stars Janet Leigh, Gene Nelson and Rory Calhoun. 

A man named Steve is obsessed with insects, he mounts them and collects them. However, his wife Carol doesn't share his enthusiasm and she's much more interested in his friend and colleague named Larry. During a date together, Carol meets a strange woman who owns a shops full of herbs and potions. She gives Carol some special "ingredients" that will ensure her dreams. It doesn't turn out the way she wanted.

Ghost Story (season one) featured host Winston Essex played by Sabastian Cabot doesn't appear in the second season. The whole series changed from season two, from the title, the credits and music score. IMHO it was better with Winston Essex and his charismatic presence. In this particular episode the house was also used in the 1960's tv series "Bewitched". The director James Neilson has worked on Ghost Story before and he has also done work for Disney. 

This insect filled episode is rather moth eaten and gets a grey strawberry.

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Ghost Story: Time of Terror

 

This is a horror anthology TV series from the 1970's, originally named "Ghost Story" and later it changed the title to "Circle of Fear". Each episode has a different tale of the spooky kind, and sometimes nightmarish. It was hosted by a fictional gentleman character named Winston Essex, owner of a haunted hotel, who introduced the stories. The next episode is "Time of Terror" directed by Robert Day, and stars Sabastian Cabot, Patricia Neal and Craig Stevens.

A woman named Ellen has woken up to find that her husband has gone. She's in a big fancy hotel with a swimming pool and casino, where everyone is perfectly happy and drinks are freely given. Unable to locate her husband, she becomes wary when her husband's things have also gone and nobody can say why. The hotel becomes a strange place and she feels alone and incredibly lost. 

It must be pointed out that this is the last episode of season one, and things drastically change by season two, from the title from "Ghost Story" changing into "Circle of Fear" and the character Winston Essex no longer hosting each episode. The episode "Time of Terror" is based on the story "Travelling Companion" by Elizabeth Walter. The director of this episode Robert Day has also done work in horror films "Ritual of Evil" and "The Initiation of Sarah".

This episode was good deserving a hot and spicy strawberry.

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Ghost Story: Creatures of the Canyon

This is a horror anthology TV series from the 1970's, originally named "Ghost Story" and later it changed the title to "Circle of Fear". Each episode has a different tale of the spooky kind, and sometimes nightmarish. It was hosted by a fictional gentleman character named Winston Essex, owner of a haunted hotel, who introduced the stories. The next episode is "Creatures of the Canyon", directed by Walter Doniger, and stars Sabastian Cabot, Angie Dickinson and John Ireland.

There is a strange dog that appears everywhere to a woman, that doesn't behave normal. The dog was once owned by her late husband until it began displaying weird traits and aggressive behaviour. Then the dog was given to a creepy neighbour. Now this dog is harassing the widow and her own gentle dog every night but there's something supernatural going on.

Back in the 1970's it was considered fashionable to portray doberman pinscher dogs as hellhounds and they appeared in a lot of horror films. After this annoyingly scary dog was poisoned, there's still a dog harassing her. It makes for a lukewarm ghost story and doesn't explain much. I rate this a tepid and bruised purple strawberry.

Blood Strawberry