Ghosts of Mars
Directed by John Carpenter
- action
- horror
- science fiction
The story
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.
What it’s like
Harsh red desert light and dust-choked haze dominate Ghosts of Mars, with rust-orange vistas, shadowy mining tunnels lit by sodium-yellow emergency strips, and a low-slung, metallic future that feels grubby rather than gleaming. John Carpenter frames much of it in widescreen with hard cuts, bursts of handheld chaos during the fights, and flashback sequences that slip in with a jolt. The synth score, pulsing and ominous, carries much of the mood, and the soundscape is full of wind, rumbling machinery and sudden, percussive violence. Its vibe is gritty, B-movie dread with a sweaty, late-night edge, suited to a dark evening with the lights low, a double bill of genre films, or a rewatch with friends who enjoy loud, unpretentious genre fun. The intensity is high: frequent gunfire, bloody, brutal violence, gore, decapitations and possession-driven horror, with some crude language and no real tenderness to soften it. The pacing is brisk and propulsive, with restless energy rather than quiet reflection. Its people are rough, hard-edged types whose arcs bend toward reluctant alliance and survival under siege. It is for viewers who want unvarnished, pulpy science-fiction horror and don't mind rough edges.
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