DALLAS, Sept. 27 — Fifty-six people have met their doom in the Dolphin Hotel’s haunted Room 1408. Now, just in time for the Halloween season, BLOCKBUSTER(R) is giving consumers the room key to see if they’ll be next. The online game “1408 Room & Doom,” inspired by the fictional movie “1408″ starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson, launches today along with a sweepstakes at http://www.1408themoviedvd.com. Both the game and sweepstakes highlight that BLOCKBUSTER will have exclusive rentals and alternate endings of the Weinstein Company film “1408″ when it is released on DVD on Oct. 2.

Now through Halloween, “1408 Room & Doom” will pit players against the evil forces of Room 1408. There is only one way to escape: to find the hidden key releasing them from the room. Players will experience eerie flashbacks from scenes from the movie and, if they are unable to outwit the evil room, one of several unpleasant fates. Like in the movie and the Stephen King short story it’s based on, a clock counts down the seconds until your untimely death.

Players who survive the psychological onslaught of Room 1408 will receive one of three bonus experiences. These include a special “1408″ wallpaper download or a sneak peak at an alternate ending to the movie, otherwise available only on rentals from BLOCKBUSTER. In a third experience, players can watch a trailer and behind-the-scenes footage of “The Mist,” a Frank Darabont-directed horror film also based on a Stephen King thriller coming to theaters Nov. 21.

Those who want to share the “1408 Room & Doom” game experience can email a postcard to a friend with the ominous warning sent to John Cusack’s character in the movie: “Don’t Enter 1408.”

The game is available online at http://www.1408themoviedvd.com through Oct. 31. Those who play “1408 Room & Doom” also have the option of entering the “1408 Room & Doom” sweepstakes. Prizes include a grand prize trip for two to New York City, which is the setting for the movie “1408,” or American Express(R) gift cards. No purchase is necessary, nor is participation in the game or BLOCKBUSTER membership required to enter the sweepstakes. Entries must be made by Oct. 14.

The “1408 Room & Doom” game and sweepstakes highlight the psychological fright film “1408″ and two alternate endings that will be available exclusively on rentals from BLOCKBUSTER beginning Oct. 2. Those who want to see if John Cusack’s character lives, dies or somewhere in between can rent “1408″ at BLOCKBUSTER stores or online at http://www.blockbuster.com.

“1408″, released by Genius Products, is part of an agreement that provides Blockbuster Inc. with exclusive U.S. rental rights to The Weinstein Company’s theatrical and direct-to-video movies. Other recent Weinstein Company releases made available for rent exclusively through Blockbuster include “Miss Potter” starring Renee Zellweger, the ensemble feature “Bobby” from Emilio Estevez and the “Grindhouse” double feature including Quentin Tarantino’s “Death Proof” and Robert Rodriguez’s “Planet Terror.”

SOURCE Blockbuster Inc.