Ghosts of Mars (2001)

Ghosts of Mars (2001) is a sci-fi horror film directed by John Carpenter, blending elements of space adventure, action, and supernatural horror. Set in the distant future on Mars, the film has a gritty, Western-style atmosphere, with Carpenter’s trademark mix of eerie tension and high-octane thrills. Despite its unique premise and a talented cast, the film was met with mixed to negative reviews, often cited for its campy execution and dated
Set in the year 2176, Ghosts of Mars follows Lieutenant Melanie Ballard (played by Natasha Henstridge), a tough Martian police officer tasked with transporting dangerous criminal James “Desolation” Williams (played by Ice Cube) to trial. Ballard and her team, including Sergeant Jericho Butler (played by Jason Statham) and Commander Helena Braddock (played by Pam Grier), arrive at a remote Martian mining colony to pick up Desolation. However, they discover the colony has been decimated, with nearly all of the inhabitants brutally murdered or missing.
As they investigate, they soon learn that the miners accidentally unearthed an ancient Martian civilization, awakening a malevolent spirit that possesses humans, transforming them into violent, self-mutilating killers. The remaining colonists, now possessed by these “ghosts,” have become bloodthirsty savages determined to kill anyone in their path.
To survive, Ballard and her crew must team up with Desolation Williams and a few remaining survivors, including Dr. Arlene Whitlock (played by Joanna Cassidy), to fight off the possessed colonists and escape Mars alive.