This week saw some interesting promotional efforts for recent and upcoming horror releases:

• The Ruins launched a viral video website that will no doubt fool some people as to what the heck they're watching, but stay 'til the end and you'll get a good indication of what to expect from the film. It also reveals a bit about the plot; i.e., what exactly the evil force is in the movie: parasitic vines that infest and feed off of other organisms.
• The Mist, which hit DVD this week, has a neat little game on Blockbuster.com that puts you in the movie, as you maneuver your way out of the grocery store and through the misty parking lot, shooting monsters as they come at you. Then, you have to drive your car on treacherous a road without running out of gas. They stop short of revealing the secret ending, though, which would make for quite a video game moment.
• Sickhouse, which hit DVD last week, is running a sweepstakes that offers as a its grand prize a plague doctor mask from the movie, a poster and DVD sleeve signed by star Gina Philips, the Sickhouse DVD and DVD sets for the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Nightmare on Elm Street and Final Destination series. But hurry -- the sweepstakes ends April 14.

Poster © Dreamworks