Ghosts of Mars (2001)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 2001
Running Times: 98 mins
Length: 2760 metres
Format: colour     35mm     Panavision (anamorphic)
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: DTS     Dolby Digital     SDDS

CREDITS

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Screen Gems Inc / Storm King Productions / Animationwerks
Producer: Sandy King
Unit Production Manager: Kim Kurumada
Production Coordinator: Cheryl A. Miller
Assistant Production Coordinator: Dulcy Freeman

SCRIPT
Script: Larry Sulkis, John Carpenter

DIRECTION
Director: John Carpenter
1st Assistant Director: K.C. Colwell
2nd Assistant Director: Darin Rivetti
2nd 2nd Assistant Director: Chemen A. Ochoa

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Gary B. Kibbe
Camera Operators: Steve Smith, Dustin Blauvelt, George Stephenson
Steadicam Operators: Guy Bee, Bob Gorelick, Greg Smith
1st Assistant Camera: Brian Kibbe, Brett Peters, Brian Bibbe, Rick Drapkin
2nd Assistant Camera: Kenneth Bender, Mindy Bee
Gaffer: Robert Krattiger
Rigging Gaffer: Tim Marshall
Electricians: James Krattiger, Tommy Cantrell, Jerry Eubanks, Ken Schneider
Best Boy Electric: Lonnie Gatlin
Key Grip: Charlie Saldana III
Grips: Craig Garfield, Doug Wall, Peter Yauri
Best Boy Grip: Jan Gould
Dolly Grips: Chuck Wayt, Jim Wickman
Key Rigging Grip: T.D. Scaringi
Stills: Neil Jacobs
Grip and Lighting Equipment: TM Equipment Rentals
Additional Production Equipment: John Grower; CTSinc.net; Evans, Hardy and Young; Santa Barbara Studios
Video Playback: Cygnet Video
Cameras and Lenses: Panavision
Colour Timer: Mato
Lab: DeLuxe (prints); FotoKem Laboratory

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Paul C. Warschilka
1st Assistant Editor: Scott Shadden
Assistant Avid Editor: Brownwyn Waddington, Danny Rafic, Kristin Eaton
Apprentice Film Editors: Craig Brown, Darrin Martin
Negative Cutters: Superior Film Service, Sharon McGeeney

MUSIC
Music: Anthrax, Buckethead, John Carpenter
Music Performed By: Anthrax (real name: Charlie Benante, Frank Bello, John Bush, Paul Crook, Scott Ian), E. 'Bucket' Baker, Robin Finck (guitar), John Carpenter
Orchestrator: John Carpenter
Orchestra Manager: John Van Houten
Music Production: The Robb Brothers
Music Recorded And Mixed At: Cherokee Studios

SOUND
Sound Recordist: Tracy Bolt
Sound Mixer: Willie Burton
Pro Tools Sound Designer: Joseph Bishara
Boom Operator: Marvin E. Lewis
Re-Recording Sound Mixers: Bill W. Benton, Jeffrey J. Haboush
Supervising Sound Editor: John Dunn
1st Assistant Sound Editor: Charlie Unger
2nd Assistant Sound Editor: Donald Hauger
Apprentice Sound Editor: Theo Chou
Supervising ADR Editor: Joe Dorn
ADR Loop Group: Caitlin McKenna, Terri Douglas, Loop Troop
Sound Effects Editors: Dave Stone, Donald Flick, Mike Chock
Foley Recordist: Carey Milbradt
Foley Mixer: Donald Hauger
Foley Artists: Carey Milbradt, Paul Holzborn
Foley Recorded At: Phoenix Soundworks
Los Angeles Cable Person: Robert Harris
New Mexico Cable Person: Bayard Carey
Assistant Engineer: Tiago Becker
Sound Mixed At: Sony Pictures Studios; The Kim Novak Theatre

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Key Make Up: James R. Kail
Make Up: Fred Blau, Ken Wensevic
Make Up For Ice Cube: Beverly Jo Pryor
Key Hair: Judy Alexander-Cory
Hair: Enid Arias
Hair For Ice Cube: Beverly Jo Pryor
Costume Designer: Robin Michel Bush
Assistant Costume Designer: Juan Lopez
Wardrobe Supervisor: Llandys Williams
Key Costumer: Robert L. Bush
Set Costumers: Amanda Gore, Lorenzo Hearns Jr
Costumers: Keith Wegner, Michael Balker, Alice Daniels, Bill Traetta, Birgitta Bjerke, Carol Demarti, Erica Freeman, Sara Pfeiffer
Seamstress: Melissa Moody

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Special Make Up Effects: KNB EFX Group Inc, Gregory Nicotero, Howard Berger, Jake Garber, Robert Kurtzman
Special Effects Make Up Design / Illustration: Brom
Project Manager: Kamar Bitar
Project Coordinator: Chiz Hasegawa
On-Set Make Up: Craig Reardon, Garrett Immel, Greg Nelson, Jill Rockow
Puppeteers: Greg Nicotero, David Wogh, Jake Garber, Louis Kiss, Luke Khanlian, Scott Patton
Fabrication / Costuming: Bruce Mitchell, Beth Hathaway, Robyn Simms
Art Department: Alex Diaz, Brian Rae, Chad Atkinson, Chris Cera, David Perteet, Jason Collins, Mario Torres, Shaun Smith, Steve Hartman
Sculptors: Don Lanning, Gino Crognale, Shannon Shea

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects Coordinator: Darrell Pritchett
Assistant Special Effects Coordinator: Casey Pritchett
Special Effects Train Supervisor: James Reedy
Special Effects Foremen: Corey Pritchett, Jason Gustafson
Special Effects Technicians: James R. Pollard, Steve Jensen, Ante Dugandzic, Dave Holoubek, Jan Nelson, Jeff Stampfer, Joel Hobbie, Preston Malott, Randy Pope, Steve King

VISUAL EFFECTS
Monkey Overlord: Shyam V. Yadav
Visual Effects Supervisors: Mike Shea, Lance Wilhoite
Visual Effects Coordinator: Jeffrey Morse
Visual Effects: Bob Monaghan
Digital Effects Coordinator: Jacqueline Rosado
Digital Effects: Steven Blakey
Digital Matte Artist: Richard Kriegler
Miniature Effects: Eric Coon
Model Maker: Benjamin Edelberg
Concept Artists: Bones Howe, Jim Young, Matt Chapman
Visual Effects Storyboard Artist: Ian Hunter
End Credits: Nick Vasu Inc, Rocco Diamond
Additional Digital Effects: Riot
Opticals: Howard Anderson Company
Motion Control Equipment Provided By: The Chandler Group VFX Rentals

Amalgamated Pixels
Visual Effects: Amalgamated Pixels
Head of Production: Derry Frost
Digital Supervisor: Michael J. Morreale
Senior Animators: Jeremy Oddo, Ken Locsmandi, Rob Meyers
Senior Compositor: R. Christopher Biggs
Compositor: Michael Pecchia

The Chandler Group
Visual Effects Photography: The Chandler Group
Visual Effects Supervisor: Don Baker
Executive Producer: Bob Shepherd
Production Coordinator: Ren Messer
Production Manager: David Sanger
Director of Photography: Tim Angulo
Chief Lighting Technician: Carlos Torres
Motion Control Camera Operator: Joshua Cushner
1st Assistant Camera: Gary Anderton, Tom Shaughnessy
Key Grip: Gary Kangrga
Digital Video Technician: Mike Uguccioni
Stage Manager: Dave Sherman

Hunter / Gratzner Industries Inc
Miniature Effects: Hunter / Gratzner Industries Inc
Visual Effects Supervisor: Ian Hunter
Mechanical Crew Chief: Scott Beverly
Miniature Effects: Ian Hunter, Matthew Gratzner, Shannon Blake Gans
Model Makers: Gary Rhodaback, James Waterhouse, Michelle Morgan, Patrick Hinkle, Seth Curlin
Crew Chief: Forest P. Fischer
Lead Painter: Leigh-Alexandra Jacob
Assistant Painter: Catherine Burns

Shadowcaster
Visual Effects: ShadowCaster
Digital Effects Supervisor: Scott Gordon

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: William Elliott
Art Directors: William Hiney, Mark Mansbridge
Assistant Art Director: Bruton Jones
Set Designers: Bruce West, Hugo Santiago, John Leimanis, Mick Cukurs
Set Decorator: Ronald R. Reiss
Los Angeles Set Dressers: Benton Tedlie, Jim Husbands, Joe Pfaltzgraf, Wendell J. Joyce
New Mexico Set Dressers: Ernest Sanchez, Lelan Keffer
On-Set Dresser: Tyler Elliott
Property Master: Michael Blaze
Property Assistants: Chris Kurumada, Stan Cockerell
Propmaker Gang Bosses: Steve Kissick, Bob Espinoza, Matt Alexander, Steven E. Fegley
Construction Coordinator: Robert Carlyle
Assistant Construction Coordinator: Bill Ray
Construction Foremen: Guy Fuller, Karen Higgins, Kirk Newren, William Forbert
Construction Gang Bosses: Gary Petersen, Keith McGee
Local Gang Boss: Ernest M. Sanchez
Lead Paint Foreman: Enrico 'Rick' Paronelli
Paint Foremen: Jimmy Lewis, Anthony Paronelli
Standby Painters: Gabriella McKenna, Vincent Chavez
Lead Plasterer: Eugenio 'Gino' Quintero
Plasterer Tender: Jesus Ornelas
Labour Foremen: Gary Stel, Jose Mendoza, Larry Wise
Los Angeles General Foreman: Jamie Orendorff
New Mexico General Foreman: W. Scott Mason
Carpenter: Peter Tosti Stephenson
Conceptual Artist: Brom
Illustrators: Joe Musso, John Eaves
Lead Man: William S. Maxwell III

MISCELLANEOUS
Script Supervisor: Kim Berner
Production Accountant: Joseph J. Murphy
Post Production Accountant: Kerry Andrews
1st Assistant Accountant: Laura J. Fox
2nd Assistant Accountant: Eileen M. Dennis
Payroll Services: Entertainment Partners Inc
Production Secretary: Gerald A. Vitatoe Jr
Production Assistants: Walter Clayton, Angela Athayde, David Cummings, Kevin McGuire, Roberta Riordan, Roderick Peyketewa, Shelly Monges, Stephanie Lovell
Assistant to Sandy King: Sean Sobczak
Assistant to John Carpenter: Gina Gilberto
Transportation Coordinator: Bo Ehrig
Drivers: Chris Basso, Dennis Lally, Domingo Nazara, George Nadian, Heriberto Osario, Jack Hess, Jeremy Morgan, Jerry Smith, Jim Murray, Mike Helgeson, Neil Marshall, Scott Bourke, Shawn Coulter, Steve Polon
Publicity Consultant: Ava Duvernay
Unit Publicist: Michael Battaglia
Electronic Press Kit: Dan Mirvish
Los Angeles Medics: Robert Brugger, Ken Clarke
New Mexico Medics: Mark Wray, Teafilo 'Chito' Sanchez
Catering: Mario's Catering
Mario's Catering Chef: Jaime Trujillo
Mario's Catering Assistant Chef: Joel Rivas, Luis Gomez, Mateo Medina
Craft Service: Caroline Kramer
Physical Trainer: Nigel Sampson
Physiotherapist: Eva Brickner
Weapons Specialist: Michael Papac
Tantastical Tarot Deck Courtesy Of: US Games Systems Inc

LOCATIONS
Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA; White Mesa, San Ysidro, New Mexico, USA; Zia Pueblo, New Mexico, USA
Los Angeles Location Manager: Jennifer Dunne
New Mexico Location Manager: Lisa W. Strout

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Jeff Imada
Stunts: Tsuyoshi Abe, Robin Bonaccorsi, Troy Brown, Danielle Burgio, Jennifer Caputo, Damon Caro, Paul Crawford, Jared Eddo, Ousaun Elam, Tom Elliott, Donna Evans Merlo, Clay Fontenot, Anita Hart, Dana Hee, Brian Imada, Steve Ito, Kevin Jackson, Chona Jason, Josh Kemble, Henry Kingi Jr, Henry Kingi, Hiro Coda, Kim Koscki, David Leitch, Al Leong, Ming Liu, Diana Lupo, Steve Martinez, Matt McBride, Dustin Meier, John Meier, Mike Mukatis, Chuck Norman, Jimmy Ortega, Tricia Peter, Steve Picerni, Chad Randall, Jalon Raney, Tim Rigby, Bridgett Riley, Bridget Riley, Troy Robinson, Erik Rondell, Chad Stahelski, Gary Toy, Tim Trella, Dain Turner, David Wald, Cheryl Wheeler, Keith Woulard, Marcus Young

CASTING
Casting: Reuben Cannon
Casting Assistant: Ayo Davis
Extras Casting: Central Casting
Los Angeles Extras Casting Assistant: Chris Bustard, Central Casting
New Mexico Casting Extras Casting: Teresa Neptune, Rainbow Casting Service

CAST
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)
Michael Krawic (man in the Rover)
Eileen Weisinger (woman warrior)
Rex Linn (Yared)
Matt Nolan (miner)
Marjean Holden (young woman)
Charlotte Cornwell (narrator)

PLOT SUMMARY

200 years in the future, a tam of police officers on Mars are assigned to transfer dangerous criminal Desolation Williams to a prison in the outpost city of Chryse. But things don't go to plan when nearby excavations unleash an army of ancient Martian warrior spirits that possess everyone they encounter.

CAPSULE REVIEW

John Carpenter's decline and fall seemed pretty well complete with this dismal effort, a futuristic remake of his own classic Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) with the faceless, relentless street gangs of the original replaced by a bunch of Marilyn Manson clones in leather fetish gear. Poorly acted, badly scripted - there are even flashbacks within flashbacks - and directed with no enthusiasm or energy by Carpenter, all it has going for it are some excellent effects and a cracking main title theme from Carpenter.

AVAILABILITY

Brazil
Video Distributors: Columbia TriStar
DVD Distributors: Columbia TriStar

France
Theatrical Distributors: CTV International

Russia
Theatrical Distributors: Cascade Film
DVD Distributors: DVD Service

Spain
Theatrical Distributors: Columbia TriStar Films de España S.A.

UK
DVD Distributors: Columbia TriStar Home Video (C822 4702)

USA
Theatrical Distributors: Screen Gems Inc / Columbia TriStar Films
Video Distributors: Columbia TriStar Home Video
DVD Distributors: MGM Home Entertainment (06250)

CENSORSHIP HISTORY

Australia
Rating: MA

Brazil
Rating: 16

Canada
Rating: 18A

Finland
Rating: K-18

France
Rating: -12

Germany
Rating: 18

Norway
Rating: 15

Portugal
Rating: M/16

Spain
Rating: 18

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: 15

USA
Rating: R (for strong violence / gore, language and some drug content)

AWARDS

2001
Catalonian International Film Festival, Sitges, Spain
Best Film (John Carpenter) - nominated

TIMELINE

2001
August
24: USA - theatrical release

September
Day Unknown: Italy - shown at the Venice Film Festival
7: Italy - theatrical release

October
4: Singapore - theatrical release; Spain - shown at the Sitges Film Festival
18: Germany - theatrical release
25: Australia - theatrical release
26: Russia, Spain - theatrical release
31: Philippines - theatrical release

November
16: Denmark - theatrical release
21: France - theatrical release
22: Czech Republic - theatrical release
29: Hungary, Malaysia - theatrical release
30: UK - theatrical release

December
4: USA - DVD release (MGM Home Entertainment (06250))
5: Belgium - theatrical release
7: Colombia, Turkey - theatrical release

2002
February
1: Brazil - theatrical release

March
Day Unknown: Belgium - shown at the Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Films
7: Argentina - theatrical release
13: Norway - video release
22: South Africa - theatrical release

April
15: Netherlands - shown at the Fantastic Film Festival
26: South Korea - theatrical release

May
3: Sweden - theatrical release
8: Iceland - video release

July
13: Japan - theatrical release

POSTER TAGS

You Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance

It's their planet... we are the aliens.

Terror Is The Same On Any Planet.

Forget The Rules. Abandon Your Fears. Save Your Soul.

ALTERNATIVE TITLES

Fantasmas de Marte - Brazilian title
Fantasmas de Marte de John Carpenter - Spanish title
Fantasmas de Marte, de John Carpenter - Portuguese title
Fantasmi da Marte - Italian title
Fantômes sur Mars - French Canadian title

LINKS

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
Red Desert Nights: Making Ghosts of Mars (2001)
Scoring Ghosts of Mars (2001)

SEE ALSO
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
The Martian Chronicles (1980)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)

REFERENCES

MAGAZINES

The Dark Side no.95 (February 2002) pp.58-59 (UK)
review (by Anton van Beek)

Entertainment Weekly no.612 (7 September 2001) p.135 (USA)
review (John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars (C-) by Bruce Fretts)

Entertainment Weekly no.629 (7 December 2001) p.78 (USA)
review (Video: John Carpenter's Ghosts Of Mars (C+) by Marc Bernardin)

epd Film vol.18 no.11 (1 November 2001) pp.38-39 (Germany)
review (Ein furioses Mars-Märchen by Hans Schifferle)

film dienst vol.54 no.21 (9 October 2001) p.18 (Germany)
review (by Reinhard Lüke)

NEWSPAPERS

Svenska Dagbladet 3 May 2002 (Sweden)
review (Carpenter garanterar våld, blod och mord (2/6) by Stefan Spjut)

KEYWORDS

aliens, archeologists, caverns, decapitation, dismemberment, drugs, drunkenness, flaying, the future, ghosts, gore, hallucinations, insanity, jails, lesbianism, mars, mountains, nuclear weapons, police, possession, self mutilation, severed arms, severed heads, space westerns, suicide, terraforming, trains

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008