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Ghosts of Mars
2001 98 min United States of America R 18+
★4.6
Action, Horror, Science Fiction
Director: John Carpenter
Trailers
Description
In 2176, a Martian police unit is sent to pick up a highly dangerous criminal at a remote mining post. Upon arrival, the cops find the post deserted and something far more dangerous than any criminal — the original inhabitants of Mars, hellbent on getting their planet back.
Budget:
$28M
US Gross:
$8.71M
Worldwide:
$14.01M
Starring
Natasha Henstridge
Actor
Ice Cube
Actor
Pam Grier
Actor
Awards
2 nominations total
Key opinion
Ghosts of Mars is widely viewed as one of John Carpenter's weakest efforts, often criticized for its derivative plot, cheap visual effects, and tonal inconsistency. While some genre enthusiasts enjoy it as an unapologetic, "so-bad-it's-good" piece of trash-cinema, others find the film to be a hollow and uninspired failure.
| Score | The soundtrack, composed by Carpenter himself, effectively blends electronic and heavy-metal elements to provide a high-energy pulse for the action. | |
| Screenplay | The film relies on a derivative, formulaic screenplay that recycles clichés and structural elements from superior sci-fi and horror classics. | |
| Production | The production design and special effects are widely considered archaic, cheap, and unconvincing, failing to build a credible Martian atmosphere. | |
| Acting | Opinions on the cast are divided; some view the performances of Henstridge, Statham, and Ice Cube as charismatic and engaging, while others dismiss the ensemble as suffering from severe miscasting and flat characterization. | |
| Originality | Reception to the film's tone is split, with some viewers embracing it as a fun, "trashy" homage to action-horror, while others criticize it for being tedious, unintentionally funny, and lacking the suspense expected of a Carpenter film. |