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Ghosts of Mars

Ghosts of Mars

  • Status: Released
  • 24-08-2001
  • Runtime: 98 min
  • Score: 5.145
  • Vote count: 1148

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.

Natasha Henstridge

Lt. Melanie Ballard

Ice Cube

James 'Desolation' Williams

Pam Grier

Commander Helena Braddock

Jason Statham

Sgt. Jericho Butler

Clea DuVall

Bashira Kincaid

Joanna Cassidy

Dr. Arlene Whitlock

Richard Cetrone

Big Daddy Mars

Rosemary Forsyth

Inquisitor

Liam Waite

Michael Descanso

Duane Davis

Uno

Lobo Sebastian

Dos

Rodney A. Grant

Tres

Wanda De Jesus

Akooshay

Peter Jason

Engineer McSimms

Doug McGrath

Benchley

Rick Edelstein

Zimmerman

Rex Linn

Yared

Michael Krawic

Man in the Rover

Robert Carradine

Rodale

Eileen Weisinger

Woman Warrior

Marjean Holden

Young Woman

Matt Nolan

Miner

Charlotte Cornwell

Narrator (voice)

Danielle Burgio

Local Lady Cop (uncredited)

Lena Milan

Hand-Double (uncredited)

Damon Caro

Shape-Male Intern (uncredited)

Christopher Allen Nelson

Demon Miner (uncredited)

CinemaSerf

Frankly, this could have been set anywhere, but Mars in the late 22nd century is the venue for this slice of mediocre sci-fi horror. It all centres around a group of police officers who are detached to a remote mining colony to apprehend the wanted murderer "Desolation Williams" (the single-gear actor that is Ice Cube). Led by "Ballard" (Natasha Henstridge) these cops, and their target, soon discover that their location has been compromised and pretty soon they are under siege from an army of zombies with an unique (and quite well depicted) means of entering and controlling the human body. Odd to see Jason Statham with hair, but otherwise I found this to be a pretty unremarkable drama that I can't think John Carpenter would look back on particularly fondly. Henstridge is competent, but her part is so generic and the dialogue - especially with her and a lacklustre Pam Grier is banal. It looks OK, and the pace once we start picks up too, but the whole thing is really derivative and this attempt to mix the horror and sci-fi genres is too dependent on some, admittedly decent, make up effects before an ending that left me wondering if a sequel were to be in the offing. Fans of JC may get more from it, but for me it's not a film to bother watching again.