Watch Ghosts of Mars

In the movie Ghosts of Mars, released in 2001, a team of law enforcement officers is sent to Mars to pick up an infamous criminal named Desolation Williams (played by rapper and actor Ice Cube). As the group prepares to leave the overcrowded city on Mars known as Chryse Planitia, they receive a distress signal from a mining outpost called Shining Canyon. The team decides to investigate, and upon arrival at the outpost, they find it eerily quiet and seemingly abandoned.

However, it turns out that the miners were possessed by the vengeful spirits of an ancient race known as the Martian Ghosts. These ghosts were accidentally released from their underground prison by mining activity and began taking over the bodies of the miners, turning them into bloodthirsty and violent creatures. The team finds themselves surrounded by the Ghosts, and with the help of Desolation Williams and the only survivor at the outpost, the team must fight to survive and stop the Ghosts from spreading to Chryse Planitia and beyond.

Natasha Henstridge plays the lead role of Lieutenant Melanie Ballard, a strong and capable officer who leads the team to Shining Canyon. Through her character, we learn about the history of Chryse Planitia and the tensions between the different factions on the planet. The team is made up of a diverse group of characters, including a rookie trainee named Bashira Kincaid (played by Clea Duvall), a drug-addicted soldier named Jericho Butler (played by Jason Statham), and the tough and experienced commander, Helena Braddock (played by Pam Grier).

As the team fights to survive against the Ghosts and the possessed miners, tensions begin to rise among the members. This is especially true between Lieutenant Ballard and Desolation Williams, as they have different approaches to dealing with the situation. Williams is more focused on fighting back and taking the fight to the Ghosts, while Ballard is focused on finding a way to research and understand the enemy in order to defeat them more effectively.

The action in Ghosts of Mars is extremely intense and violent, with scenes of graphic gore and terrifying imagery. The Ghosts themselves are portrayed as monstrous, with spiked dreadlocks and sharp teeth. They are also incredibly resilient and difficult to kill, making for some intense and suspenseful battle scenes.

One of the unique aspects of Ghosts of Mars is its fusion of sci-fi and horror genres. The film takes place in a futuristic world, with advanced technology and space travel. However, the horror elements come from the spiritual and supernatural threats posed by the Ghosts. The movie is also known for its themes of feminism and gender roles, as Lieutenant Ballard is a strong and capable female leader who must overcome the biases and prejudices of her male colleagues.

Overall, Ghosts of Mars is a thrilling and intense movie that is sure to appeal to fans of both sci-fi and horror. The strong performances from the cast, coupled with the unique blend of genres, make it a standout film from 2001. While it may not have been a box office success upon its initial release, it has gained a cult following over the years and remains a beloved classic for fans of the genre.

Ghosts of Mars is a 2001 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.9 and a MetaScore of 35.