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John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars

Threat advisory: Under evaluation

Movie propaganda

Terror is the same on any planet.

Long inhabited by human settlers, the red planet has become the manifest destiny of an over-populated Earth. Nearly 640,000 people now live and work all over Mars, mining the planet for its abundant natural resources. But one of those mining operations has uncovered a deadly mother lode: a long-dormant Martian civilisation whose warriors are systematically taking over the bodies of human intruders.

Lieutenant Melanie Ballard (Natasha Henstridge) of the Martian Police Force is on transport assignment to bring James "Desolation" Williams (Ice Cube), the planet's most notorious criminal, to justice. Williams has no plans to make Ballard's job easy, and what begins as a battle of force and wits between cop and criminal soon turns into something more fundamental: a battle for human survival in the realm of the Martian warriors. It's civilisation against civilisation as Ballard and Williams join forces in mortal combat with the Ghosts of Mars.

Theatrical propaganda posters

John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars image

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

  • Film science fiction horror supernatural action Mars colony

Persons of interest

  • Natasha Henstridge .... Melanie Ballard
  • Ice Cube .... James "Desolation" Williams
  • Jason Statham .... Jericho Butler
  • Clea DuVall .... Bashira Kincaid
  • Pam Grier .... Commander Helena Braddock
  • 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
  • Peter Jason .... McSimms
  • Wanda De Jesus .... Akooshay
  • Doug McGrath .... Benchley
  • Rick Edelstein .... Zimmerman
  • Robert Carradine .... Rodale
  • Larry Sulkis .... Screenwriter
  • John Carpenter .... Screenwriter
  • John Carpenter .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Even though I haven't seen it yet, I have a desperate desire to call this film Goats of Mars.

Media intelligence (DVD)

  • Audio: Dolby 5.1
  • Commentary: John Carpenter, Natasha Henstridge
  • Disc: Single sided, dual layer
  • Featurettes:
    • Scoring Ghosts of Mars
    • Special effects deconstruction
    • Video diary: Red desert nights
  • Languages: English, German
  • Picture: Widescreen (2.40:1/16:9 enhanced)
  • Picture disc
  • Subtitles: English, English captions, German, Hindi, Turkish
  • Talent profiles
  • Trailers: Theatrical, bonus

Security censorship classification

MA 15+ (High level violence, medium level coarse language)

Surveillance time

94 minutes (1:34 hours)

Not for public release in Australia before date

Film: 25 October 2001
DVD rental: 17 April 2002
VHS rental: 17 April 2002

Cinema surveillance images

John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars image
John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars imageJohn Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars imageJohn Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars imageJohn Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars imageJohn Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars imageJohn Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars imageJohn Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars imageJohn Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars imageJohn Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars image

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