Giveaway: The Raven (Movie)

October is the month for spooky, scary and things that go bump in the night. One of the original American authors in the horror genre is, of course, Edgar Allan Poe.

I'm normally a bit of wimp when it comes to horror, but Poe is a favorite. I love his short stories, including "Masque of the Red Death," "The Pit and the Pendulum," and "The Tell-Tale Heart." And I've read "Anabelle Lee" and "The Raven," two of his most well-known poems, many times.

Did you know that Poe is associated with two real-life mysteries? First is the circumstances of his death: He was found walking the streets in a confused state on October 7 wearing someone else's clothes. He died in the hospital just two days later, never gaining full consciousness. No one knows the events leading to his death. Second is that for 61 years a mysterious mourner commemorated the anniversary of Poe's death by leaving flowers and cognac on the author's grave in Baltimore. Just as mysteriously, the tributes stopped in 2010. The man in the black cloak was never identified.

Much less of a mystery is this: Just in time for the 163rd anniversary of Poe's death (October 9), Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is releasing the DVD/BluRay of The Raven, starring John Cusack and Luke Evans.

Here is the official studio synopsis of the movie:

Baltimore, 1849. While investigating a horrific double murder, police detective Emmett Fields (Evans) makes a startling discovery: the killer's methods mirror the twisted writings of Edgar Allan Poe (Cusack). Suspecting Poe at first, Fields ultimately enlists his help to stop future attacks. But in this deadly game of cat and mouse, the stakes are raised with each gruesome slaying as the pair races to catch a madman before he brings every one of Poe's shocking stories to chilling life . . . and death.

Sounds perfect for October, doesn't it? Plus who doesn't love John Cusack? I'll have a review of the movie sometime next week, but thanks to Think Jam Publicity, you can get a little taste of the movie right now by exploring the following map and playing the videos; one of the them is the movie trailer. (Read the instructions and the warning.)

In The Raven, the city of Baltimore acts as an integral part of the plot as Poe races through the city to solve a crime. Hover your mouse over this map for the most chilling locations to be revealed. Click the icons and watch these suspenseful scenes unfold before your eyes!

*Note the map contains mild spoilers and some graphic material keeping in nature with the film's tone*

Giveaway: Also thanks to Think Jam, I'm able to offer one of my readers (U.S. mailing address only) a prize pack consisting of a copy of the DVD plus a mini movie poster. To enter for a chance to win, fill out the form, and I'll pick one winner (using a random number generator) on October 15. I'll delete all personal information once the winner is confirmed. Good luck!