Click to read the article
John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars (2001)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted: 99
Fresh: 19
Rotten:80
Average Rating: 3.6/10
Consensus: John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars is not one of Carpenter's better movies, filled as it is with bad dialogue, bad acting, confusing flashbacks, and scenes that are more campy than scary.
Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Theatrical Release: Aug 24, 2001 Wide
Box Office: $7,307,616
Synopsis: In the year 2176, Earth has colonized Mars, and all positions of power are held by women. Police Lieutenant Ballard (Natasha Henstridge) is assigned to take a crew via train from the metropolis of Chryste to the deserted mining town of... In the year 2176, Earth has colonized Mars, and all positions of power are held by women. Police Lieutenant Ballard (Natasha Henstridge) is assigned to take a crew via train from the metropolis of Chryste to the deserted mining town of Shining Station to capture an extremely dangerous convict, Desolation Williams (Ice Cube). When Ballard and her crew arrive at Shining Station, an eerily deserted town, they find not only Williams, but also scientist Dr. Whitlock (Joanna Cassidy), who has secluded herself in the colony for safety. She tells Ballard and her crew that a mining project released a mysterious cloud from beneath the planet's surface. It is possessing the colonists, causing them to hunt down and kill off any non-possessed beings. Ballard and her crew decide that they must destroy the possessed beings for the good of the planet, a job which is more difficult than anyone predicts. John Carpenter's 17th theatrical feature combines action, horror, and sci-fi with thematic elements from earlier works (most notably ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 and THE THING). Rough around the edges with lots of energy and a sense of fun, GHOSTS OF MARS is a spirited genre cocktail. [More]
Starring: Natasha Henstridge, Ice Cube, Jason Statham, Pam Grier
Starring: Natasha Henstridge, Ice Cube, Jason Statham, Pam Grier, Clea DuVall, Joanna Cassidy
Director: John Carpenter
Director: John Carpenter
Screenwriter: Larry Sulkis
Producer: Sandy King
Studio: Screen Gems
DVD Info
Release:
Dec 4, 2001
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Keep Case
- Widescreen - 2.35
- Full Frame
Audio:
- Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
- Audio Commentary - 1. John Carpenter - Director, Natasha Henstridge - Star
- Trailer - 1. Original Theatrical
- Featurette - 1. Video Diary: RED DESERT NIGHTS
- 2. SCORING GHOSTS OF MARS
- 3. Special Effects Deconstructions
Interactive Features:
- Interactive Menus
- Scene Selection
Text/Photo Galleries:
- Filmographies
Reviews for John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars
Ghosts of Mars is not Carpenter at his best. It may very well be Carpenter at rock bottom.
More Mars lacks than Mars attacks and an outing for Carpenter die-hards only.
You'll wish you were on Mars and not on Earth suffering through this movie.
There's a great deal of promise in the outline of the tale, but somewhere along the line, the execution went awry.
Latest News for John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars
January 17, 2007:
Disney Signs On with "John Carter of Mars"
Not too long ago Jon Favreau was this close to directing "John Carter of Mars" for Paramount Pictures, but the studio let their option on the property lapse -- and we... More...
May 13, 2005:
John Carpenter to Return to Directing with "Apostle"
Yahoo! brings some news that should please the horror fans out there. Seems that legendary scare-master John Carpenter ("Halloween") will be returning to the... More...
June 06, 2001:
Clea DuVall, Pam Grier, and Joanna Cassidy have joined the cast. ![]()
More...
June 06, 2001:
And about how the fighting in his film eschews those trendy Matrix moves. 'There wasn't a lot of flying around at the Alamo,' says Carpenter. ![]()
More...
Related Forums for John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars
by: tj 2/29/04
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| Iron Man | |
| Forgetting Sarah Marshall | |
| Sex and the City - The… | |
| Leatherheads | |
| Made of Honor |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| You Don't Mess with the Zohan | |
| The Happening | |
| Paranoid Park | |
| The Visitor | |
| Stuck |

Top Critic