Ghosts Of Mars - Undervalued Space Horror B-Movie Classic By John Carpenter - Explored In Detail!

The legacy of John Howard Carpenter needs no introduction. In terms of commercial success, Carpenter has always been an unsung hero, but his works have inspired a generation of directors, including the likes of Quentin Tarantino. He might not be as popular or successful as Steven Spielberg or Martin Scorsese, but his cult-following is no less. It is unfortunate that many of his iconic movies did not receive their due appreciation upon release, and were only appreciated with time. It would be wrong to try to define this legend by his Oscar success or box-office records because his movies were all about breaking the tradition. He dared to venture into uncharted territories with films like Halloween, The Thing, Escape from New York, They Live, and many others that redefined horror and slasher flicks. Carpenter’s best quality as a director was to generate an air of paranoia and create suspense through simple moments. Today’s brand of new directors is influenced by his works, and he is now hailed as a horror icon with some terribly undervalued movies.
Speaking of undervalued films, how can we forget the space horror B-movie classic, Ghosts of Mars! It was misunderstood and trashed by critics and audiences alike. Indeed, various aspects of the movie like the campy special effects and stiff acting performances deserve the flak the film received. However, there is more to this film than meets the eye, and in this video, we will tell you all about this underrated gem by the veteran director.
0:00 Intro
2:01 First, Let's Explore the Story Of Ghosts Of Mars In Detail
4:29 It Was Going To Be A "Escape From L.A" Sequel
8:36 The Cast Is Filled With Amazing Bad-Ass Cheesy Actors!
9:56 John Carpenter Used Several Elements from his own works
10:30 John Carpenter Took The Violence To The Next Level!
12:42 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
15:01 Why Ghosts Of Mars Deserves Attention By B-Movie Lovers?
16:58 Our Final Words

[@ryanpolk3141]

I never understood why this got so much dislike or just forgotten. I’ve seen it several times and loved it. Great action, actors, and it’s campy and fun. The kind you can just sit back, relax and watch

[@adamgray1753]

Pretty much, Ryan Polk. Ghosts of Mars is not the type of movie you must turn off your brain to like whatsoever either.

[@ryanpolk3141]

@@adamgray1753 exactly. It’s one you can just have fun with and it does require some thinking. It’s also not one of those to take too seriously. Judging by what he based the movies on I don’t think Carpenter was assuming people would

[@JHjh88]

Agreed! 🙂👍

[@JHjh88]

@Ch Pe I vuaghely remember Jason Statham getting his first gig in this? I loved it. Being chased by ppl who had mutilated their own faces is scary enough for me! 😉👍

[@JHjh88]

@UCqkXDqlIPj454amrpmeSTwg Hahahaha! Thank you for clarifying that for me. I remember thinking 'how did that English bloke get caught up in this movie'. The rest is history I guess! Cheers again!

[@darkservantofheaven]

A demonic presence on Mars vs a dude wth a big shotgun...... This is a Closer movie to Doom than the Doom movie

[@lucascoval828]

Holy crap! YOU'RE RIGHT! 😳😳😳

[@thebrownbaldy]

Never thought of it that way lol

[@LoganLiberty]

Except in Doom, it's clear the demons are still the beasts that must be wiped out.

[@luisemilianogonzalezvinces3400]

Jason Statham would play an Amazing Doomguy

[@shaneodwyer6132]

The Doom film was a travesty, I was so frustrated by that missed opportunity

[@rickerson81]

I LOVE John Carpenter films! Where all others get lost in time or a product of the era, Master Carpenters films transcends those. Cult classics may not make the big money at first, but they are remembered and appreciated long after.

[@jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545]

I put Carpenter on a list of directors whose stuff never gets the love they deserve until it's too late to make the big bucks. I also include George A. Romero and Kevin Smith. Believe it or not, I think that John's biggest sin of moviemaking is his realism.

[@alexknox1596]

Agree escape from New York and the fog are my favourites, vampires was really good too only only I hate James woods!!! his face is offensive lol

[@alexknox1596]

@@jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545 agree only I hated land of the dead the one with Sam Worthington in the lead, I think I was expecting too much from it

[@jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545]

@@alexknox1596 Simon Baker played Riley Denbo, not Sam Worthington . I don't remember Sam being in Land.

[@jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545]

@@alexknox1596 lol. I have no opinion of James Woods' face.

[@joshuafrohm921]

Love Ghosts of Mars Ice Cube looks like he's having a blast and Desolation is an awesome character name and awesome character and Natasha Henstridge is awesome and drop dead gorgeous she's awesome un species and on the show Eli.

[@cloverdog85]

My father and I went to every movie he made in theaters. We loved every one of them.

[@MrNorthernoaks]

That big boss metal head overlord scared the shit out of me as a kid , love that movie

[@Joecbg100]

Fun fact, he's also the Alpha, Zeus in Army of the Dead

[@JellyRoger_XIII]

Saw it in cinema with friends. Rememb the amazing fun and the laughs on gore scenes and characters. Later got it in DVD and fuck........fun again. Undervalued ?!? truly dunno by who.....here in Italy we just LOVED it cuz we completely got the Carpenter's idea to make it 'over the top' or as we prefer to say 'On Steroids !!'. And that's why we loved and loving that supah movie. Carpenter is a genius in entertainment industry and an AMAZING musician. Long live the one and only 'Horror Master' !! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻🤙🏻

[@turnipjuice2626]

Considering the - Umberto Lenzi does Total Recall vibes this movie gives me, I'm not surprised the Italian gets it... 🤣

[@conflictmagazine]

Still a favorite and the thing I always think is 'if he just had a little more budget'. People have been bashing this film since it came out but I have seen it dozens of times. A great first film for a weekend binge and you can follow it with so many different films (that other people hate as well in my case...Event Horizon anyone?). In my Top 10 Carpenter films...thanks for the video on this one.

[@reaperjane2180]

One of my favorite movies! I'm happy to see it getting some love after all this time. Kinda reminds me of another underappreciated space horror--Event Horizon--which also saw a surge in popularity after box office failure. I wish we had more fun and crazy movies like this nowadays. Anyone else notice similarities to a Stephen King novel called Desperation?

[@mermaid_at_heart213]

Event Horizon is amazing.

[@alcidesprieto1967]

This was the first time I saw Jason Statham in an American movie. He was really cool and stood out. It's awesome how he went on the have such a wonderful career.

[@shaneodwyer6132]

The Thing is an all time classic of any genre, genuinely one of the greatest films of all time, a masterpiece of tension and gory horror. I hope he has 1 more masterpiece in him as a swan song which is praised accordingly, culminating in an Oscar - I'd be delighted for him.

[@kennethweser]

John Carpenter is a genius who is ahead of his time and we haven't caught up with him yet. I love all of his movies and have watched all of them multiple times and will watch them all again. My all time favorites are Escape from New York and Starman.

[@chermebrownsauce8049]

This movie is just pure fun, a guilty pleasure. Great underrated cast, legendary director, cool vibe and the stunning Natasha Henstridge

[@jamesandrews8655]

I don't know what it IS about this flick, but I've loved it since the FIRST time I watched it in my local theater baxk in the day and I STILL re-watch it a few times a year lol.

[@RememberingEverything90s]

I seen this when I was a kid and still love it to this day.

[@ttomkatt1]

I can't even guess on how many times I've watched Ghost of Mars. I have always liked and enjoyed this movie very much. I agree that it's not the best sci Fi movie ever filmed, but I still love it anyway.

[@rossbach451]

I love this movie! No pretensions, just straight-forward action. Sgt Jericho is one of my cinematic heroes, and Natasha Henstridge was ridiculously hot and capable as the lead. Ice Cube is always entertaining.

[@michaelbarnes2617]

This movie kicked so much ass lol a lot of famous actors, action and bad writing I loved it lol

[@dmxdxl]

Carpenter is the man, "They Live" and "The Thing" are his best!!!!...

[@mermaid_at_heart213]

And In the Mouth of Madness!

[@frankbruder3097]

The story is conveyed as the testimony of a character, with events she wasn't present at relayed at the time she was told about it by other characters. I don't know whether that was the intention, but to me this fractured narration with flashbacks within a flashback reproduces the way perspective and time can flip in dreams. It also often sets things up that draw your attention and then delivers the most obvious payoff at the first opportunity. For example, at the beginning we can't help but notice she has a small cut on her neck. When we get into what happened, that needs to be explained. So at the first convenient moment she's held hostage with a knife to her neck. This kind of thing also creates a dream-like experience, because if it were your dream, it would happen _because_ you're thinking about it. It's a literally nightmarish film. And it has an awesome ass kicking score.

[@_manofreal3133]

I remember watching this in theaters as a kid with my parents. I remember being terrified, then excited by the action. Then waiting for the sequel at the end.

[@EarnestEgregore]

Saw it in theatres with my dad way back… good memories… this movie was “bad” in all the best ways

[@ZENN-LA74]

I got the same feeling watching the Running Man and Total Recall.

[@talosbitch8434]

I think you just love your dad

[@bucky699]

Its wat we call terrabad, bad in the best way

[@JasonSum1979]

i loved this film the first time i watched it (i’m surprised so many horror fans didn’t understand/like what Carpenter tried to do with Ghost of Mars the cast is really good too (i think Ice T or Laurence Fishburne would’ve been better as Desolation Williams though) Ice Cube seems to be sleep walking through the film it also has a very deep social commentary on humanity in general! It doesn’t deserve the over the top hate it gets online. The irony is Army of the Dead is a sense a remake of Ghost of Mars (So more people should give Ghost of Mars a second chance and discover it again) it’s not perfect but, there’s a lot of love & respect put into the film! Great video btw 👍👍👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👍👍

[@tokyosmash]

Literally one of my favorite movies of all time

[@Fred_L.]

It was and is a good b-movie, though indeed the choice of actors is weird and suboptimal. And it is a good time for making this video, considering that Richard Cetrone, who played the Martian leader (Big Daddy Mars) is currently in cinemas as the zombie leader (Zeus) in Army of the Dead.

[@ogquinn408]

X'D i knew he looked familiar

[@friednoodle6582]

So that's why i find Zeus nostalgic when i saw him. Still doesn't save the Army of the Dead. Ghost of Mars is better compared to the amount of Stupid in that movie.

[@johnryder1713]

The connections to Carpenters work is undeniable, such as a bunch of cops trapped in a fortress, like assault on precinct 13, but this was to be escape from Earth, a further progression from the travesty that was escape from LA so it was decided to break to connection to such a flop. Its worth noting Ice Cube uses the gun, a Franchi LF57, that Tod uses on the Moon in Soldier.

[@tjson7917]

This is a underrated movie for sure! I've seen it a few times and still come back to it every now and again. Classic space horror film

[@acurry2323]

The best thing in the movie to me was Marilyn Manson on steroids leading all the Martians

[@vadamsable]

Manson was in it?? Lots 0f stars.

[@thecat5872]

A lot of people think that’s double- M as the bad guy , I believe it’s the same actor from JC’s Vampires Ian Thomas griffin I think

[@badrequest5596]

manson wasn't in it, but because the villain looks like manson it kind of became a running joke in the 2000s: martians goths led by marylin manson. to this day we still refer to this movie like that: self mutilating goths from mars led by marylin manson

[@bobbates5507]

The actor who played the Martian leader, Richard Cetrone, also played the zombie leader Zeus, in Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead.

[@chrisbennett1358]

I always thought that guy looked like my mother. I called him Bev

[@bennygerow]

Natasha is such a great actress with incredible range and physicality for the role. Can't imagine Courtney instead. Like...... Why???

[@garyreid6165]

I enjoyed John Carpenter’s Ghosts Of Mars because of the action. It reminded me of of his film Assault On Precinct 13. I have heard that one of Carpenter’s influences was the films of director Howard Hawks(who produced the 1951 version of The Thing).Hawks directed a film called Rio Bravo with John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson and Ricky Nelson(Assault On Precinct 13 was inspired by Rio Bravo). Another aspect of Ghosts Of Mars was that it was a sci-fi, horror, action styled western. Except, there were no horses(other than the train which were called iron horses back then). A small detachment of law enforcement officers come to Shining Canyon for a prisoner pick up and discover something worse. I didn’t realize that Quatermass And The pit was an influence. It does seem similar in some ways with the ghosts infected people. John Carpenter’s use of locations deserves merit. When he made Halloween III: Season Of The Witch, and The Fog, he filmed in California. The Thing, he filmed in British Columbia, Canada. Vampires, New Mexico. I remember reading some comments that John Carpenter was slowing down and not coming up with anything new. Genre film fan can become jaded.

[@Diggy22]

You left out one key inspiration: John Carpenter's own first film, Assault On Precinct 13. Cops and criminals teaming up to take on an ominous enemy.

[@TheTenth666]

yep, I thought about that viewing the video, that would be an even bigger John Carpenter reference to his past movies than The Thing (formless alien), Escape from New York (badass main character) or else ; the characters are very soon having to escape from the very limited space they're on and the enemies are there to kill them all

[@Artillerystormtrooper]

Whenever its on I will watch this movie, its a guilty pleasure movie.

[@TheDevilsMishap]

This movie story and lore are haunting. So many possibilities. I feel this pit in my stomach when they walk off camera together at the end and think about the large scale of the city and them being overwhelmed by hordes and eventually having to find things to cover their heads as the spirits look to enter through your ears or mouth. Getting out of the city and having to deal with something larger. At the end of the film the woman Melanie is reporting to says “what are we supposed to tell the cartel?”. If referring to the crime syndicate by this time they’d be massive and quite terrifying, the cartel comes to collect or see what’s going on whilst having to fight the ghosts. It’d be pandemonium. By this point Desolation would have already convinced Melanie to leave behind being a cop because there’s a thin line between a cop and a crook and it showed when the woman said something about reporting to the cartel. Meaning Melanie’s higher ups were corrupt. I think they’d blow the planet up and escape. They’d escape Mars which was Johns original project involving this movie and it’d take 2 more movies to finish the ghost of mars lore. I don’t know I’ve been playing this in my head since seeing this movie when I was 9 years old. It’s been 21 years and it drives me crazy never having this story universe fleshed out.

[@jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545]

I got 2 letters for anyone who bags on Ghosts Of Mars: B and S! This is a great movie. Over the top? Yes. Done on purpose? Obviously, to anyone who knows Carpenter's work. The only criticism any of his other work should get is too real. My take on most of his films is that if you suspend disbelief about one thing then the rest is exactly how it may play out in the real world.

[@ritwiksondhi]

Gonna re-watch it this weekend now.

[@killervic7379]

So bad it’s good. A classic I enjoyed with my brothers back in the day.

[@janellejulianajoy]

I'm still angry that I didn't get to see this in theaters. I was going to see movies almost every weekend back then.

[@TheMidniteSon]

1 of my all-time favorite movies!❤😁

[@salliewagenblatt5188]

This is a pretty good b movie schlock wish it had gotton a sequel the way it ended on a huge cliffhanger really wanted to see what happened next.

[@jamesandrews8655]

I've said that same thing actually, especially after the way it ended.

[@leedonovan8567]

NO ONE EVER DONE THIS CONCEPT BEFORE!! MR. JOHN CARPENTER, IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A GENIOUS!!

[@bigbaddawg101]

This was one of my favorite movies back in high school.

[@jenniferscott4900]

I luv this movie omg it's one of my favorites 😍😊

[@elainethomas9737]

Mine to 😁

[@aydenvavra2153]

It’s a fun action film from the master John Carpenter what’s not to like

[@charlesmoore2777]

Mine too, nothing beats a good b movie

[@eugenehatin.420]

Such a good movie and such a underrated and under valued movie!!! And holy shit I never realized that Jason Statham is in this movie

[@w4shep]

Drinking game: Every time the main bad guy screams - do a shot Every plot hole - chug your beer I love this movie. It's just good fun.

[@nicholaswilliams1296]

Didn't realize that this was originally going to be the final film in the Escape from New York trilogy! Wow.

[@caponecollectibles3199]

This movie has always been one of my guilty pleasures

[@damianstarks3338]

I remember this when I was a kid.

[@corydeceased]

Like 5 days ago I decided to rewatch this for the 1st time in over a decade. I did not regret my choice

[@JHjh88]

Always loved this film. Yes some cheesy bits. But claustrophobic atmosphere, & that view over the cliff was chilling!👍 from Australia

[@theeuroaddict1493]

Yep. Guilty pleasure for mine fom Australia too - great to see another Australian fan.

[@JHjh88]

@@theeuroaddict1493 Thanks for the comment, I was kind of the lone Australian fan there till you joined the fray 😉👍. I get why ppl think it's silly, but it's claustrophobic, & the scene when they peer over the cliff to basically 'Zombie-esqu' craziness is genuinely chilling!!

[@bolo4955]

Loved ghosts of mars truly a gem 👌🏼

[@BrickChick]

My baby sister thought this was about sailer mars from sailer Moon, I kept telling her it wasn't but I took my baby sister to see this horror movie and traumatized her the way my big sister traumatized me with Event Horizon . Keep that cycle of mental horror going i guess, she really should have listened to me for us to watch something else .

[@themerryharridan8409]

My son and I watched this together on a sick day and loved it.

[@DchanZockt]

To say that Ghosts of Mars is an underrated B-movie classic is quite bold. Considering that John Carpenter got such a burnout because of this flick, which is why he couldn't make any movies for almost 10 years.

[@Drayton42677]

The main villain is the same zombie from ARMY OF THE DEAD. He’s also Ben Affleck’s Batman stunt double

[@charlesman8722]

I will never understand why my girl Natasha isn’t as famous as she is.

[@automatik7669]

Lol this statement literally makes no sense. If she is famous as she is how could you say she isn’t famous as she is? Or you meant to say famous as she should be? Just made me chuckle 🤪

[@ComicBookGuy420]

I enjoyed her work in Eli Stone

[@JHjh88]

I'm a straight woman & I hear you! She's frigging gorgeous!! 👍🙂 From Australia

[@Aeis_Kalt]

The only thing I can add to this, is that if Carpenter wanted to do a continuation of Snake Plissken's character, he had to give us the Escape that was referenced all throughout L.A. first, as it was supposed to be much more brutal than even New York was. Escape From Cleveland. Everyone seems to forget that Cleveland was supposedly where Plissken not only saved a second, different President, but it also kind of broke him. For Heroes to rise, first, they must fall.

[@shiftstart]

I disagree. Carpenter was 100 times better than Spielberg and Scorsese. Box office hits don’t make a Director become immortal, his work does.

[@Cwhirt910]

Scoreses is so overrated, he makes the same movie every single dang time. I rank Carpenter and Spielberg higher than Scorsese any day of the week.

[@aydenvavra2153]

Carpenter’s films linger in my mind longer then any Scorsese and Spielberg’s films.

[@shiftstart]

@@aydenvavra2153 Exactly. It all has to do with replay value.

[@aydenvavra2153]

@@shiftstart I feel so bad for Carpenter that his films weren’t huge box office successes but at least they have lived on and gained cult followings. He might be my favorite filmmaker and at the end of the day The Thing and Halloween are classics

[@shiftstart]

@@aydenvavra2153 Those who know Carpenter’s will pass down his name for many years. Also a great composer genius.

[@russelljconquerslifehawkey]

This is my favorite way of consuming movies

[@JackofBlades-zs4cj]

Ghosts of Mars is a fantastic movie, don't give a fuck what anyone has to say.

[@batzgameguru]

Underrated for sure

[@philerrup4113]

Just bought this on Amazon today! Dropped to $6.99, what a coincidence! Great movie.

[@gungasc]

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!

[@Niemand]

Skulls for the Skull-Throne

[@gilbertfrendenmez3030]

Milk for the khorne flakes

[@ACrustyCount]

HERESY DETECTED! ALERTING ORDO HERETI- (Chainaxe to the face)

[@asvagar8163]

there's a series of (mostly) unconnected episodes called "Metal Hurlant Chronicles". Ghosts of Mars always reminds me of the episode "The Endomorphe"

[@aliservan7188]

See, this is why i love this channel, they give the love where it's needed most.

[@alectuddles5845]

Ice Cube, a very openly gay man, was hired to play the role of a gangsta rapper that was given a role in a cheesy sci-fi movie... and HE NAILED IT!!!!!

[@axelwulf6220]

My one gripe of this movie is how they did utilize Jason well He's playing just another meatshield with a gun

[@jakekgfn]

"AAAAK AAAK KAAAK KKA KKKKAAAAAAKA AAKKA" that main villan was speaking truth man

[@rabidunion6949]

I always thought this movie seemed similar to Resident Evil. I still liked it! And Event Horizon too! Long live space horror! Lol 👍👍

[@FindecanorNotGmail]

Thanks. I wasn't sure if my memory of this movie was real, or a memory of a nightmare I've had.

[@jpofgwynedd3878]

Ghosts Of Mars is... Assault On Pct 13 on Mars with elements of Quatermass and The Pit, and where it seems to 'stall', it doesn't, as this echoes the claustrophobia of The Thing. It's almost a John Carpenter Redux. Great video, but missing the Precinct 13 link..? Guys! I out-geeked you!

[@samhaines8228]

was just thinking about this flick last week, wondering if it'll ever pop up on a streaming service- would enjoy seeing it again!

[@doggeelikesit9849]

I saw this movie again months ago,I liked it enough to see three times. Good horror.

[@Guh_roomer_Gravedigger]

All carpenter movies are underrated

[@crimsonhakik1234]

Great movie!

[@contentcop]

I love this movie so much, iv owned like 3 copies of it in my life lol

[@Christhejanitor]

What an atmosphere this movie creates

[@joshmajor8662]

Yep, saw it in theaters and loved it in all the bad ways haha I was REALLY confused why it was done the way it was, movies before and after had amazing effects and cgi and ghost Mars had this Lol still worth a watch tho!!!

[@asaheldavalos8041]

Always enjoys this one. Guilty pleasure

[@recodatruth8860]

Oooooooo...😁😁 .. can't wait for this one

[@joehertel8846]

Anyone else watch this and firefly and think these guys were the inspiration for the reavers ?

[@alexanderadonyae7937]

This a classic right here🎯 i always loved this movie

[@Ironcross6669]

Best Syfy Movie of all Time! Plus before Ice Cube became The New Black XXX! LOL 😂

[@brokenbridge6316]

Okay. If I can I'll try to see this movie if I can. And not judge it too harshly. Nice video.

[@danieltown2471]

I really loved ghosts of mars and hoped for a second movie we never got.

[@2112earl]

Got it on dvd and love it

[@HungryForTastyFoodAndComicArt]

Dayumn! Time to hit the de-esser for the Voice Over Narration!

[@FresnoBoy6star]

Loved this movie

[@rackadactal3044]

Loved this one some digbat said it’s trash obviously sounds like someone that wouldn’t know a good time if it smacked them in the face

[@nottogood415]

always loved this movie have good memory of staying up late night as a kick and catching it on tv.

[@FreemanCanada]

Only saw this one once way back, I may have just been a pre-teen but watched it with my dad. I didn't really find it all that great compared to Escape From L.A. but I've been really meaning to rewatch this for the last while. Update, watched it last night with my dad and had a great time, was terrific to sit back and watch the chaos! Thought the martian landscape was well done and same with the models.

[@markh385]

Fantastic movie

[@yohangajan7427]

Excuse my french but this movie is Way better than the Fast and Furious saga

[@christermyrberg3661]

Though I think that this would've worked way better as a third Snake Plissken movie as it was originally intended I still think that this is very entertaining scifi-actioner that gets unfairly hated too much

[@DeckardCroix]

7:52 "Quartermass"? Heh, great video though, and certainly an underrated film!

[@michaellutcher5244]

I liked Ghost of Mars

[@dezyrabletwink]

I always loved this movie.

[@Botopdawg]

for some reason, I really like this movie

[@jopiaspieder1184]

I love this movie and want a sequel to it

[@yayap5631]

Love this movie

[@TheGoodLad89]

I like this Movie and thought they got the Cast spot on. At some point, maybe we'll get a reboot/remake with a bit more Horror though

[@croissantlover1]

this movie reminds me of Adrenaline: Fear the rush.