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[[quoteright:259:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alice_2014.jpg]]
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%% * TheDollEpisode: Any time Mary and Joseph show up, which thankfully isn't a lot
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* GunsAreUseless: By the time Christopher actually gets his hands on one, there aren’t any monsters around to use it on.
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* LiteralManeater: [[spoiler: Terceira, though she doesn't do this to Christopher because she doesn't have to]]
* LoveMakesYouCrazy
* LoveMakesYouCrazy
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* ManEatingPlant
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* RantInducingSlight: [[spoiler:Christopher calling Michael ‘Mickey’ sets him on quite a rant.]]
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* PrimalFear: The book was built around them. [[AdultFear Losing a child]], the dark, [[GoMadFromTheIsolation being isolated]], being raped/date-raped, spiders, clowns, and being buried alive are just a few.
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* PrimalFear: The book was built around them. [[AdultFear [[OutlivingOnesOffspring Losing a child]], the dark, [[GoMadFromTheIsolation being isolated]], being raped/date-raped, spiders, clowns, and being buried alive are just a few.
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%% * ActionGirl: Prima
* AdultFear: Tons of it, given that Christopher's primary objective is trying to find a lost child in an unfamiliar and dangerous place.
* AdultFear: Tons of it, given that Christopher's primary objective is trying to find a lost child in an unfamiliar and dangerous place.
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* AllMenAreRapists: Subverted. [[spoiler: It's heavily implied that Christopher was abused by his female boss as a child and fears her doing the same to the children at the asylum when he isn't around.]]
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* AllMenAreRapists: AllMenArePerverts: Subverted. [[spoiler: It's heavily implied that Christopher was abused by his female boss as a child and fears her doing the same to the children at the asylum when he isn't around.]]
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%% * LiteralManeater: [[spoiler: Terceira, though she doesn't do this to Christopher because she doesn't have to]]
%%* LoveMakesYouCrazy
%%* LoveMakesYouCrazy
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%% * ManEatingPlant
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* AdultFear: Tons of it, given that Christopher's primary objective is trying to find a lost child in an unfamiliar and dangerous place
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%% * ActionGirl: Prima
* AdultFear: Tons of it, given that Christopher's primary objective is trying to find a lost child in an unfamiliar and dangerousplaceplace.
%% * AdvancingWallOfDoom: In the last chapter as [[spoiler: Michael's subconscious begins erasing the dream in preparation to start over]]
* AdultFear: Tons of it, given that Christopher's primary objective is trying to find a lost child in an unfamiliar and dangerous
%% * AdvancingWallOfDoom: In the last chapter as [[spoiler: Michael's subconscious begins erasing the dream in preparation to start over]]
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* AllThereInTheManual: [[spoiler:What happened to the real Christopher and the reason why Michael is trapped in his own mind are revealed in other works]]. There is also a lot of extra information and drawings on the author's [[http://blackcatmisfortunate.deviantart.com/ deviantart account]], as well as the author's [[http://fourthwallgraffiti.tumblr.com/ tumblr]].
%% * AlwaysNight: Almost
%% * AlwaysNight: Almost
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* AuthorAppeal: Played straight and deconstructed; mental instability, Alice in Wonderland references, and [[spoiler:rape]] appear in other works by the author, as well as the fact that she is a huge fan of horror, but the way that the story is now came to be out of the author writing down a list of all her major phobias and then writing a book that includes all of them.
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%% * ChekhovsGun: The medicine bottle at the beginning
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%% * DramaticThunder
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** The island/town's name is Wonderland and the street names are minor characters.
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** The island/town's name is Wonderland and the street names he streets that Christopher has to go through to get to Joseph and Mary's house are minor characters.Oyster Way and Walrus Avenue; they live on Carpenter Street.
* FollowTheWhiteRabbit: Christopher spends the first half of the novel trying to find Mickey and essentially following his tracks, or at least going to places he thinks Mickey might be. It's later revealed that Mickey is actually wearing a sweater that has a white rabbit on it.
%% * GhostTown
%% * HouseOfBrokenMirrors: The Funhouse
%% * ItWasADarkAndStormyNight: The best weather ever shown is a light drizzle
%% * JekyllAndHyde: [[spoiler: Morgan]] can be seen as this
%% * JekyllAndHyde: [[spoiler: Morgan]] can be seen as this
%%* LoveMakesYouCrazy
%% * TheMadHatter: [[spoiler: Prima and Terceira]]
%% * TheMadHatter: [[spoiler: Prima and Terceira]]
%% * MadwomanInTheAttic: Sadly, almost all the children at Woodrow Asylum qualify
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%% * SanitySlippage: Christopher (and arguably the entire town) as the story progresses.
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** Prima wields a bat with a symbolic word written on it, similarly to Yuko from ''Manga/XXXHolic''.
** The giant clown-spider is a reference to ''Literature/{{It}}''.
** The giant clown-spider is a reference to ''Literature/{{It}}''.
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%%* StepfordSmiler: [[spoiler: Matthew]], most fitting with Type B; also Joseph and Mary.
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%%* TheUndead: Mostly avoided until the end.
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%% Zero Context Example entries are NOT allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.
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''For the book series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, see Literature/AliceSeries''
''Christopher Robinson didn’t deserve what happened to him. Then again, almost no one does…''
Christopher was a simple man with a simple goal: to make sure all his charges at Woodrow Children’s Asylum were as healthy and happy as possible. Not an easy task, and having to drive to town to pick up medicine on the stormiest night of the year didn’t make it any easier. The car accident made it impossible.
Now stranded on a nearly-deserted island with no clue as to how or why he and one of his patients were brought there, Christopher’s goal has changed: get the child and himself out of Wonderland. In a race against time, the criminally insane inhabitants of the island, and his own dwindling sanity, Christopher must either find a way to escape or become one of the island’s many lunatics.
''[=ALiCE=]'' is a psychological horror/parody made by Roselin Productions and contains heavy themes of abuse and psychological torment... but also occasionally [[AffectionateParody takes a comedic jab at or references other horror works]], particularly the slasher films of the 70s and 80s.
----
!!Tropes:
%% * AbandonedHospital
%% * AbandonedHospitalAwakening
%% * AbandonedPlayground
%% * AbusiveParents: [[spoiler:Mary and Joseph, and most likely some of the parents of the kids at Woodrow Asylum]].
* AdultFear: Tons of it, given that Christopher's primary objective is trying to find a lost child in an unfamiliar and dangerous place
* AliceAllusion: Everywhere, some more subtle than others:
** The island/town's name is Wonderland and the street names are minor characters.
** The Jabberwock and Vorpal Blade, the latter as a baseball bat, but it still shows up.
** The plot itself: Christopher is Alice, Mickey is the White Rabbit, and the other characters occasionally reference other Wonderland characters.
** Christopher is shown in flashbacks reading ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'' to the children.
** The [[spoiler: AllJustADream]] ending, even though it's played with.
** A portion of "Literature/{{Jabberwocky}}" and other poems from ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'' are quoted in a flashbacks. There are also poems written in the same style as some of the ones in ''Literature/AliceInWonderland''
** Matthew's cat is named Cheshire and has a malformed jaw so it always looks like it's smiling
%% * AllJustADream: Played with.
* AllMenAreRapists: Subverted. [[spoiler: It's heavily implied that Christopher was abused by his female boss as a child and fears her doing the same to the children at the asylum when he isn't around.]]
%% * AnkleDrag: More like Ankle Grab in this case, but it's pretty much the same outcome
%% * ArcNumber: 317.
%% * ArcWords: The Sandman poem.
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Pretty massively after Christopher is poisoned by the Jabberwock [[spoiler:but justified since it’s Michael’s dream and he might not know how those things work]]. The poison seems to be intravenous, which means it would have to be drawn out of Christopher’s veins or a cure would have to be injected. However the problem is fixed by Prima forcing him to drink alcohol. It doesn’t make much sense that that would cure him, since all it does is make him vomit.
%% * AttemptedRape
%% * AxCrazy: [[spoiler:Prima, Terceira, Michael, maybe Abel and, if Michael is to be believed (but probably not) Matthew and Morgan too.]]
%% * BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: [[spoiler:Mostly averted, since it seems like it will be a case of TalkingTheMonsterToDeath until TheReveal.]]
%% * BarredFromTheAfterlife: [[spoiler: Michael]]
%% * BedlamHouse: Woodrow Children's Asylum to some extent, and the third floor of the hospital.
* BeingTorturedMakesYouEvil: [[spoiler: The abuse and experimentation that Michael was put through made him go insane and start doing terrible things, though he tries to justify it as his victims deserving it. There's also some hints that despite the LaserGuidedAmnesia he inflicts on everyone, the other characters are gradually remembering some of what happens and are becoming more vicious because of it]].
%% * BigBrotherInstinct: Morgan to Matthew.
* BigDamnHero:
** Michael of all people has a moment when he [[spoiler:saves Christopher from being raped by Morgan]]. It is then promptly subverted.
** Prima slaying the Jabberwock. [[spoiler:Again subverted almost immediately after.]]
%% * BloodyHandprint: The school has several in the hallway and Christopher's reflection leaves one behind.
%% * BloodSplatteredInnocents
%% * BodyHorror: Matthew and Morgan's eyes, [[spoiler: Mary and Joseph at the end.]]
%% * BreakTheCutie: Christopher, Matthew, [[spoiler: Mickey.]]
%% * BreakingTheFourthWall: [[spoiler: How the book ends.]]
%% * ButchLesbian: Prima
%% * ButLiquorIsQuicker
%% * CheshireCatGrin: Michael. It’s even shown in one of the illustrations; Prima and Terceira as well.
%% * ChildrenAreInnocent: Christopher reacts this way to the children ghosts.
%% * CircusOfFear: The Wonderland Amusement Park.
%% * ClosedCircle
%% * CreepyCemetery: Although nothing really bad happens in it.
%% * CreepyChild: Mickey, the children ghosts.
%% * CreepyChildrenSinging
%% * CreepyDoll: Mary and Joseph have a whole collection of them. Delightful.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: Abel is [[spoiler:killed and eaten by Prima and Terceira, who are reduced to an unrecognizable pulp by Michael later.]]
* DateRape: [[spoiler: Shortly after saving Christopher from being raped by Morgan, Michael takes Christopher to a bar, abuses his trust and gratitude to get him drunk, and rapes him]]
* DeadAllAlong: [[spoiler: Played with. While several of the characters are actual murder victims of Michael, all of the characters are actually figments of his imagination. Some of them even realize it to some extent.]]
* DeliberatelyCuteChild: Though Mickey also qualifies as a CreepyChild, his cute qualities are also played up, like when he [[CooldownHug gives Christopher a hug to make him feel better.]]
* DisproportionateRetribution: The book. [[spoiler:Though Michael says that the real Matthew and Morgan were much worse than their dream versions, the special edition reveals that [[UnreliableNarrator he actually killed them because Morgan used to bully him. He killed Matthew entirely by accident because he mistook him for his twin.]]]]
%% * TheDollEpisode: Any time Mary and Joseph show up, which thankfully isn't a lot
* DontGoInTheWoods: The woods around the town are implied to be full of monsters, while Christopher only encounters a few in the town, and they [[NothingIsScarier usually aren't seen, just heard.]]
%% * DreamPeople
%% * DrivenToMadness: Several of the characters, most notably [[spoiler: Michael]].
%% * DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Matthew and Morgan, though the latter ended up murdering the former after keeping him drugged to prevent him from killing himself.]]
* DrivenToVillainy:
** Morgan is [[spoiler:forced to drug Matthew to keep him from killing himself]] and tries to rape Christopher, though it's implied that he didn't have control over his own actions.
** This could apply to Prima and Terceira because despite the fact that they were both serial killers, Christopher wasn't their typical target and [[spoiler: hey were trying to kill him to stop the cycle from repeating, even though it would have been ineffective anyway]].
* DullSurprise: By the end of the book hardly anything fazes Christopher anymore. The townspeople don’t react to his being there without any explanation, except Matthew excitedly asking him questions about the outside world.
%% * EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Christopher
%% * EldritchAbomination: Several, though Christopher is rarely physically attacked by them. They do far more damage to his sanity than his physical health, sans the Jabberwock.
%% * EscapeFromTheCrazyPlace
%% * EverythingTryingToKillYou
* EvilOrphan: Subverted, [[spoiler: Michael was much happier when he lived at Woodrow Children's Asylum; being adopted by Joseph and Mary and the abuse he suffered at their hands was his StartOfDarkness.]]
* EyeScream:
** Matthew and Morgan are identical twins but have different colored eyes, apparently because MadScientist doctors decided to remove one eye from each of them and transplant it into the other twin, ‘correcting’ their heterochromal eyes. The transplant didn’t go well so the transplanted eye in each of them is sightless.
** [[spoiler: When Michael demonstrates how he killed himself, his eye turns bloodshot and cracks appear on his face.]]
* TheFaceless: Terceira’s face is covered by a veil. Could also apply to Abel, who is never seen. Some of the monsters have no faces either.
* FakeMemories: [[spoiler:Seems like a possibility given the nature of the characters’ existence, as they wouldn’t be able to know anything about themselves other than what Michael knows or made up, but Christopher DOES seem to have at least some of the real Christopher’s memories since his entry into Wonderland mimics the way the real Christopher died, which Michael has no way of knowing about]].
* FateWorseThanDeath:
** [[spoiler:Since they're all figments of Michael's imagination with just enough autonomy to feel pain and fear, all of the characters are doomed to repeat the horrors they've suffered from again and again. Michael himself is trapped in his own deranged mind with no way to cure himself, and as a coping mechanism set up a 'game' in which everyone kills themselves or each other and the only person who ever loved him either can't be allowed to recognize him or will [[DespairEventHorizon go insane immediately]]]].
** It's even worse for Christopher, who is specifically targeted as the 'hero', since [[spoiler:he will always fail to rescue Mickey because it is not possible to restore Michael's sanity. He also has to live with the fact that Michael has become what he is. Christopher is heartbroken when he finds out what Michael has done, and is repeatedly subjected to this kind of torment, which is specifically designed to drive him insane and hurt him in any way possible]].
* FissionMailed: May be one of the harshest subversions of this trope. Although Christopher falling over the cliff trying to get supplies is how he gets to Wonderland, it comes with drastically negative consequences and the whole point [[spoiler:is pretty much to punish him for something he wasn't responsible for]].
%% * FunctionalAddict: [[spoiler: Matthew.]]
%% * GiantEyeOfDoom: Occasionally appears, though it's unclear if it's really there or if Christopher is hallucinating due to his scopophobia
%% * GiantSpider: The Jabberwock
%% * GoAmongMadPeople
%% * GoMadFromTheIsolation: Christopher considers suicide early on because of this, though he gets better.
%% * GoMadFromTheRevelation: [[spoiler: Matthew, and implied to happen to Prima, but the verdict is out on how sane she was to begin with.]]
* GratuitousRape: Subverted; although it can seem like just another fear tacked on at first, it does serve as a plot point since [[RapeLeadsToInsanity Christopher’s sanity is shaken by it]] and he no longer trusts [[spoiler:Morgan]], whom could have helped him [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation and may have been trying to]].
* GunsAreUseless: By the time Christopher actually gets his hands on one, there aren’t any monsters around to use it on.
%% * HallOfMirrors: In the amusement park.
%% * HappyPlace: Godwin's Deli is this [[spoiler: until Morgan and Matthew's murder-suicide.]]
%% * HarbingerOfImpendingDoom: How Prima sees Christopher
* HazardousWater: Christopher inquires early on if there are any boats to use to get off the island. He is ''strongly cautioned'' against trying to swim or sail across the lake.
%% * ImAHumanitarian: [[spoiler: Prima and Terceira]]
* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Surprising given the SanitySlippage, but Christopher. [[spoiler:Even after Morgan attempted to rape him, he still feels bad when he kills himself and for the suffering he went through, and still very much loves Michael/Mickey even though he admits to doing horrible things on purpose and that pretty much the goal of his dream world is torturing Christopher.]]
* IronicNurseryTune: "The Sandman," which Christopher sang to the children at the asylum, pops up a few times. It's also the name of a gothic horror story.
%% * KidsAreCruel: The school scene, particularly what happened to Stanley.
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler:Used at the end of every game to wipe the town residents’ memories of what happened, thereby keeping them from getting too smart and making sure the frights stay fresh. It seems to be losing its effectiveness though, since Prima and Matthew appear to be becoming self-aware or at least more aware of the truth than others]].
%% * LipstickLesbian: Terceira
%% * LiteralManeater: [[spoiler: Terceira, though she doesn't do this to Christopher because she doesn't have to]]
%% * MadScientist: The doctors at the hospital, though never seen.
%% * MadScientistLaboratory: The red room of the hospital qualifies.
%% * ManEatingPlant
* ManySpiritsInsideOfOne: [[spoiler:The only 'real' person is Michael, who may or may not still be alive, with Mickey representing a small part of himself that is still sane/pure, but the other characters are implied to be mostly autonomous and in some cases even actively working against Michael]].
* MeaningfulName:
** Christopher Robinson’s name is meant to bring to mind [[Literature/WinnieThePooh Christopher Robin]], which relates to innocence and joy, and makes what happens to him even more unsettling.
** Christ-opher, befitting his status as a MessianicArchetype.
** Mickey’s name, as well, is meant to be a cute diminutive and bring to mind [[Creator/WaltDisney Disney]] ([[Franchise/MickeyMouse MICKEY]] [=WALTers=]).
%% * MedicalHorror: [[spoiler: Part of Michael's backstory]]
* MindManipulation: It’s implied that [[spoiler:Michael, at least in the dream world, has some form of this ability due to all the human characters being figments/extensions of his mind. He uses it for LaserGuidedAmnesia, manipulating perceptions (like Christopher not being able to realize he’s a fully-grown Mickey until he wants him to realize it), and possibly making Morgan sexually assault Christopher and getting Christopher to sleep with him (combined with alcohol, which may help this power work since Morgan was drunk too)]].
%% * MindRape
%% * MonsterClown: The Jabberwock, and there may or may not be some clown monsters walking around the amusement park.
* MultipleEndings: [[spoiler:Not really since it’s a book, but the way the plot is structured means that there have been several different ‘endings’ in the past and Michael comments on this]].
%% * NeverSleepAgain: [[spoiler: The ending]]
%% * NiceGuy: Christopher is unbelievably nice, which only makes it worse.
%% * NightmareFuelColoringBook: The drawings Christopher finds in the school.
%% * NightmareSequence
%% * NonActionGuy: Christopher for the most part, until his SanitySlippage leads him to TakeALevelInBadass.
%% * NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization: [[spoiler: Employed by Michael to drive Christopher further into insanity since he is uncomfortable with his sexuality and is sex repulsed.]]
* NothingIsScarier: The book becomes scarier if the reader takes into consideration some of the things that aren't shown, like exactly [[spoiler:what the doctors did to Michael]], particularly since some of these things [[spoiler:are not part of Michael's dream world and actually happened in 'real life' at some point in the story]].
%% * OminousFog
%% * OminouslyOpenDoor: The school gate, doors, and the amusement park gate are all open.
* OrphanageOfFear: The way Madam Margot ignores the children and feeds them the bare minimum to stay alive, it certainly seems like Woodrow Children’s Asylum could easily be this if not for Christopher taking care of the children and making sure they’re as happy as possible.
%% * PapaWolf: Christopher to Mickey.
* PeekABooCorpse: Stanley, the corpse in the hospital that falls out of the cabinet.
%% * ParentalAbandonment: Most, if not all, of the children at Woodrow Asylum.
* PersonalHorror: Christopher is horrified by the idea that [[spoiler: his sexual orientation may be apparent to everyone on the island]].
* PostRapeTaunt: [[spoiler: Prima mocks Christopher about being raped]].
* PrimalFear: The book was built around them. [[AdultFear Losing a child]], the dark, [[GoMadFromTheIsolation being isolated]], being raped/date-raped, spiders, clowns, and being buried alive are just a few.
* PsychicPowers: [[spoiler: Michael, and Matthew is implied to be clairvoyant]]
%% * PsychologicalHorror
%% * QuestionableConsent: [[spoiler:It isn't elaborated upon but is implied that Christopher didn't fight Michael's advances. However, he was drunk and unable to consent]].
* RantInducingSlight: [[spoiler:Christopher calling Michael ‘Mickey’ sets him on quite a rant.]]
* RapeAsBackstory: [[spoiler:If one pays close attention to some of Christopher's mental comments and his fears, it becomes apparent that he was sexually abused in the past]].
* RapeAsDrama: [[spoiler:First when Morgan attempts to rape Christopher and then when Michael actually does]].
* RapeDiscretionShot: We don’t actually see [[spoiler:Michael]] rape Christopher, just incriminating flashbacks. It is confirmed but not shown.
* RedHerring: A lot of clues seem to just kind of fizzle out into irrelevancy after they are discovered, or, once their meaning is known (like the Sandman poem), are fairly irrelevant anyway. Even if one takes them as trying to lead Christopher to [[spoiler:realize that Michael IS Mickey, his memories have been altered so that he can’t remember or figure it out no matter how plainly it’s spelled out for him, and there’s no way for the readers to put it together because they don’t have the prior knowledge that Michael does]].
%% * SanitySlippage: Christopher (and arguably the entire town) as the story progresses.
%% * ScaryFlashlightFace: Done by Christopher's boss of all people
%% * SerialKiller: Half the island
%% * SerialRapist: The other half, if it's not both
* ShoutOut:
** Christopher and Mickey's names (Christopher Robinson and Mickey Walters) are references to Disney. Made even more clear when Madam Margot mistakenly introduces Mickey as [[WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck Donald]] in one of the flash backs.
** The use of the Sandman poem to ''VideoGame/AmericanMcGeesAlice'', specifically ''Madness Returns''. The poem isn't exactly the same, though; the one used here is the actual nursery rhyme.
** The part with the children in the school building is a reference to the Vocaloid song "Circle You".
** Several to the ''Franchise/SilentHill'' series.
*** A story about a man searching a strange town for a lost child? [[VideoGame/SilentHill1 Why is that so familiar?]]
*** The [[spoiler:doll monsters that Mary and Joseph turn into at the end]] are very similar to the Scarlet boss battle in ''VideoGame/SilentHillHomecoming''.
** One to ''Film/TheGrudge'' and other such Japanese horror films in the school chapter when a StringyHairedGhostGirl crawls down the stairs.
%% ** There are also references to ''Film/JacobsLadder''.
%% ** Several to Stephen King books and slasher films.
%% * SinisterScrapingSound
%% * SlasherSmile: [[spoiler:Prima]] has one you can practically ''see''. [[spoiler:Her]] original concept art shows [[spoiler:her]] with one as well.
%% * StrappedToAnOperatingTable
%% * TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow: [[spoiler:The book ends with Michael [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou addressing, or at least acknowledging, the audience]]. Whether his ability to do so is part of his psychic powers is unknown]].
%% * TomatoInTheMirror: [[spoiler:Christopher gets ranted at about this]].
* TroublingUnChildLikeBehavior: Mickey is unusually mature for his age, and some of the drawings and notes Christopher finds in the school are so disturbing that they aren't described
* UnreliableNarrator: As Christopher begins to lose his mind, it becomes less clear if certain events are actually happening or if he's just hallucinating them. There's also TheReveal, which shows that [[spoiler:Christopher was just made up of what Michael remembers about his caretaker and everything that's happened is a dream that's on a GroundhogDayLoop]].
%% * WhatDidIDoLastNight
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Christopher's crawl through the tunnel to get out of the hospital seems fairly mild, but gets worse if one considers his severe phobia of bugs.
----
''Sleep well.''
%%
%% Zero Context Example entries are NOT allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.
%%
%%
%%
''For the book series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, see Literature/AliceSeries''
''Christopher Robinson didn’t deserve what happened to him. Then again, almost no one does…''
Christopher was a simple man with a simple goal: to make sure all his charges at Woodrow Children’s Asylum were as healthy and happy as possible. Not an easy task, and having to drive to town to pick up medicine on the stormiest night of the year didn’t make it any easier. The car accident made it impossible.
Now stranded on a nearly-deserted island with no clue as to how or why he and one of his patients were brought there, Christopher’s goal has changed: get the child and himself out of Wonderland. In a race against time, the criminally insane inhabitants of the island, and his own dwindling sanity, Christopher must either find a way to escape or become one of the island’s many lunatics.
''[=ALiCE=]'' is a psychological horror/parody made by Roselin Productions and contains heavy themes of abuse and psychological torment... but also occasionally [[AffectionateParody takes a comedic jab at or references other horror works]], particularly the slasher films of the 70s and 80s.
----
!!Tropes:
%% * AbandonedHospital
%% * AbandonedHospitalAwakening
%% * AbandonedPlayground
%% * AbusiveParents: [[spoiler:Mary and Joseph, and most likely some of the parents of the kids at Woodrow Asylum]].
* AdultFear: Tons of it, given that Christopher's primary objective is trying to find a lost child in an unfamiliar and dangerous place
* AliceAllusion: Everywhere, some more subtle than others:
** The island/town's name is Wonderland and the street names are minor characters.
** The Jabberwock and Vorpal Blade, the latter as a baseball bat, but it still shows up.
** The plot itself: Christopher is Alice, Mickey is the White Rabbit, and the other characters occasionally reference other Wonderland characters.
** Christopher is shown in flashbacks reading ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'' to the children.
** The [[spoiler: AllJustADream]] ending, even though it's played with.
** A portion of "Literature/{{Jabberwocky}}" and other poems from ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'' are quoted in a flashbacks. There are also poems written in the same style as some of the ones in ''Literature/AliceInWonderland''
** Matthew's cat is named Cheshire and has a malformed jaw so it always looks like it's smiling
%% * AllJustADream: Played with.
* AllMenAreRapists: Subverted. [[spoiler: It's heavily implied that Christopher was abused by his female boss as a child and fears her doing the same to the children at the asylum when he isn't around.]]
%% * AnkleDrag: More like Ankle Grab in this case, but it's pretty much the same outcome
%% * ArcNumber: 317.
%% * ArcWords: The Sandman poem.
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Pretty massively after Christopher is poisoned by the Jabberwock [[spoiler:but justified since it’s Michael’s dream and he might not know how those things work]]. The poison seems to be intravenous, which means it would have to be drawn out of Christopher’s veins or a cure would have to be injected. However the problem is fixed by Prima forcing him to drink alcohol. It doesn’t make much sense that that would cure him, since all it does is make him vomit.
%% * AttemptedRape
%% * AxCrazy: [[spoiler:Prima, Terceira, Michael, maybe Abel and, if Michael is to be believed (but probably not) Matthew and Morgan too.]]
%% * BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: [[spoiler:Mostly averted, since it seems like it will be a case of TalkingTheMonsterToDeath until TheReveal.]]
%% * BarredFromTheAfterlife: [[spoiler: Michael]]
%% * BedlamHouse: Woodrow Children's Asylum to some extent, and the third floor of the hospital.
* BeingTorturedMakesYouEvil: [[spoiler: The abuse and experimentation that Michael was put through made him go insane and start doing terrible things, though he tries to justify it as his victims deserving it. There's also some hints that despite the LaserGuidedAmnesia he inflicts on everyone, the other characters are gradually remembering some of what happens and are becoming more vicious because of it]].
%% * BigBrotherInstinct: Morgan to Matthew.
* BigDamnHero:
** Michael of all people has a moment when he [[spoiler:saves Christopher from being raped by Morgan]]. It is then promptly subverted.
** Prima slaying the Jabberwock. [[spoiler:Again subverted almost immediately after.]]
%% * BloodyHandprint: The school has several in the hallway and Christopher's reflection leaves one behind.
%% * BloodSplatteredInnocents
%% * BodyHorror: Matthew and Morgan's eyes, [[spoiler: Mary and Joseph at the end.]]
%% * BreakTheCutie: Christopher, Matthew, [[spoiler: Mickey.]]
%% * BreakingTheFourthWall: [[spoiler: How the book ends.]]
%% * ButchLesbian: Prima
%% * ButLiquorIsQuicker
%% * CheshireCatGrin: Michael. It’s even shown in one of the illustrations; Prima and Terceira as well.
%% * ChildrenAreInnocent: Christopher reacts this way to the children ghosts.
%% * CircusOfFear: The Wonderland Amusement Park.
%% * ClosedCircle
%% * CreepyCemetery: Although nothing really bad happens in it.
%% * CreepyChild: Mickey, the children ghosts.
%% * CreepyChildrenSinging
%% * CreepyDoll: Mary and Joseph have a whole collection of them. Delightful.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: Abel is [[spoiler:killed and eaten by Prima and Terceira, who are reduced to an unrecognizable pulp by Michael later.]]
* DateRape: [[spoiler: Shortly after saving Christopher from being raped by Morgan, Michael takes Christopher to a bar, abuses his trust and gratitude to get him drunk, and rapes him]]
* DeadAllAlong: [[spoiler: Played with. While several of the characters are actual murder victims of Michael, all of the characters are actually figments of his imagination. Some of them even realize it to some extent.]]
* DeliberatelyCuteChild: Though Mickey also qualifies as a CreepyChild, his cute qualities are also played up, like when he [[CooldownHug gives Christopher a hug to make him feel better.]]
* DisproportionateRetribution: The book. [[spoiler:Though Michael says that the real Matthew and Morgan were much worse than their dream versions, the special edition reveals that [[UnreliableNarrator he actually killed them because Morgan used to bully him. He killed Matthew entirely by accident because he mistook him for his twin.]]]]
%% * TheDollEpisode: Any time Mary and Joseph show up, which thankfully isn't a lot
* DontGoInTheWoods: The woods around the town are implied to be full of monsters, while Christopher only encounters a few in the town, and they [[NothingIsScarier usually aren't seen, just heard.]]
%% * DreamPeople
%% * DrivenToMadness: Several of the characters, most notably [[spoiler: Michael]].
%% * DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Matthew and Morgan, though the latter ended up murdering the former after keeping him drugged to prevent him from killing himself.]]
* DrivenToVillainy:
** Morgan is [[spoiler:forced to drug Matthew to keep him from killing himself]] and tries to rape Christopher, though it's implied that he didn't have control over his own actions.
** This could apply to Prima and Terceira because despite the fact that they were both serial killers, Christopher wasn't their typical target and [[spoiler: hey were trying to kill him to stop the cycle from repeating, even though it would have been ineffective anyway]].
* DullSurprise: By the end of the book hardly anything fazes Christopher anymore. The townspeople don’t react to his being there without any explanation, except Matthew excitedly asking him questions about the outside world.
%% * EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Christopher
%% * EldritchAbomination: Several, though Christopher is rarely physically attacked by them. They do far more damage to his sanity than his physical health, sans the Jabberwock.
%% * EscapeFromTheCrazyPlace
%% * EverythingTryingToKillYou
* EvilOrphan: Subverted, [[spoiler: Michael was much happier when he lived at Woodrow Children's Asylum; being adopted by Joseph and Mary and the abuse he suffered at their hands was his StartOfDarkness.]]
* EyeScream:
** Matthew and Morgan are identical twins but have different colored eyes, apparently because MadScientist doctors decided to remove one eye from each of them and transplant it into the other twin, ‘correcting’ their heterochromal eyes. The transplant didn’t go well so the transplanted eye in each of them is sightless.
** [[spoiler: When Michael demonstrates how he killed himself, his eye turns bloodshot and cracks appear on his face.]]
* TheFaceless: Terceira’s face is covered by a veil. Could also apply to Abel, who is never seen. Some of the monsters have no faces either.
* FakeMemories: [[spoiler:Seems like a possibility given the nature of the characters’ existence, as they wouldn’t be able to know anything about themselves other than what Michael knows or made up, but Christopher DOES seem to have at least some of the real Christopher’s memories since his entry into Wonderland mimics the way the real Christopher died, which Michael has no way of knowing about]].
* FateWorseThanDeath:
** [[spoiler:Since they're all figments of Michael's imagination with just enough autonomy to feel pain and fear, all of the characters are doomed to repeat the horrors they've suffered from again and again. Michael himself is trapped in his own deranged mind with no way to cure himself, and as a coping mechanism set up a 'game' in which everyone kills themselves or each other and the only person who ever loved him either can't be allowed to recognize him or will [[DespairEventHorizon go insane immediately]]]].
** It's even worse for Christopher, who is specifically targeted as the 'hero', since [[spoiler:he will always fail to rescue Mickey because it is not possible to restore Michael's sanity. He also has to live with the fact that Michael has become what he is. Christopher is heartbroken when he finds out what Michael has done, and is repeatedly subjected to this kind of torment, which is specifically designed to drive him insane and hurt him in any way possible]].
* FissionMailed: May be one of the harshest subversions of this trope. Although Christopher falling over the cliff trying to get supplies is how he gets to Wonderland, it comes with drastically negative consequences and the whole point [[spoiler:is pretty much to punish him for something he wasn't responsible for]].
%% * FunctionalAddict: [[spoiler: Matthew.]]
%% * GiantEyeOfDoom: Occasionally appears, though it's unclear if it's really there or if Christopher is hallucinating due to his scopophobia
%% * GiantSpider: The Jabberwock
%% * GoAmongMadPeople
%% * GoMadFromTheIsolation: Christopher considers suicide early on because of this, though he gets better.
%% * GoMadFromTheRevelation: [[spoiler: Matthew, and implied to happen to Prima, but the verdict is out on how sane she was to begin with.]]
* GratuitousRape: Subverted; although it can seem like just another fear tacked on at first, it does serve as a plot point since [[RapeLeadsToInsanity Christopher’s sanity is shaken by it]] and he no longer trusts [[spoiler:Morgan]], whom could have helped him [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation and may have been trying to]].
* GunsAreUseless: By the time Christopher actually gets his hands on one, there aren’t any monsters around to use it on.
%% * HallOfMirrors: In the amusement park.
%% * HappyPlace: Godwin's Deli is this [[spoiler: until Morgan and Matthew's murder-suicide.]]
%% * HarbingerOfImpendingDoom: How Prima sees Christopher
* HazardousWater: Christopher inquires early on if there are any boats to use to get off the island. He is ''strongly cautioned'' against trying to swim or sail across the lake.
%% * ImAHumanitarian: [[spoiler: Prima and Terceira]]
* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Surprising given the SanitySlippage, but Christopher. [[spoiler:Even after Morgan attempted to rape him, he still feels bad when he kills himself and for the suffering he went through, and still very much loves Michael/Mickey even though he admits to doing horrible things on purpose and that pretty much the goal of his dream world is torturing Christopher.]]
* IronicNurseryTune: "The Sandman," which Christopher sang to the children at the asylum, pops up a few times. It's also the name of a gothic horror story.
%% * KidsAreCruel: The school scene, particularly what happened to Stanley.
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler:Used at the end of every game to wipe the town residents’ memories of what happened, thereby keeping them from getting too smart and making sure the frights stay fresh. It seems to be losing its effectiveness though, since Prima and Matthew appear to be becoming self-aware or at least more aware of the truth than others]].
%% * LipstickLesbian: Terceira
%% * LiteralManeater: [[spoiler: Terceira, though she doesn't do this to Christopher because she doesn't have to]]
%% * MadScientist: The doctors at the hospital, though never seen.
%% * MadScientistLaboratory: The red room of the hospital qualifies.
%% * ManEatingPlant
* ManySpiritsInsideOfOne: [[spoiler:The only 'real' person is Michael, who may or may not still be alive, with Mickey representing a small part of himself that is still sane/pure, but the other characters are implied to be mostly autonomous and in some cases even actively working against Michael]].
* MeaningfulName:
** Christopher Robinson’s name is meant to bring to mind [[Literature/WinnieThePooh Christopher Robin]], which relates to innocence and joy, and makes what happens to him even more unsettling.
** Christ-opher, befitting his status as a MessianicArchetype.
** Mickey’s name, as well, is meant to be a cute diminutive and bring to mind [[Creator/WaltDisney Disney]] ([[Franchise/MickeyMouse MICKEY]] [=WALTers=]).
%% * MedicalHorror: [[spoiler: Part of Michael's backstory]]
* MindManipulation: It’s implied that [[spoiler:Michael, at least in the dream world, has some form of this ability due to all the human characters being figments/extensions of his mind. He uses it for LaserGuidedAmnesia, manipulating perceptions (like Christopher not being able to realize he’s a fully-grown Mickey until he wants him to realize it), and possibly making Morgan sexually assault Christopher and getting Christopher to sleep with him (combined with alcohol, which may help this power work since Morgan was drunk too)]].
%% * MindRape
%% * MonsterClown: The Jabberwock, and there may or may not be some clown monsters walking around the amusement park.
* MultipleEndings: [[spoiler:Not really since it’s a book, but the way the plot is structured means that there have been several different ‘endings’ in the past and Michael comments on this]].
%% * NeverSleepAgain: [[spoiler: The ending]]
%% * NiceGuy: Christopher is unbelievably nice, which only makes it worse.
%% * NightmareFuelColoringBook: The drawings Christopher finds in the school.
%% * NightmareSequence
%% * NonActionGuy: Christopher for the most part, until his SanitySlippage leads him to TakeALevelInBadass.
%% * NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization: [[spoiler: Employed by Michael to drive Christopher further into insanity since he is uncomfortable with his sexuality and is sex repulsed.]]
* NothingIsScarier: The book becomes scarier if the reader takes into consideration some of the things that aren't shown, like exactly [[spoiler:what the doctors did to Michael]], particularly since some of these things [[spoiler:are not part of Michael's dream world and actually happened in 'real life' at some point in the story]].
%% * OminousFog
%% * OminouslyOpenDoor: The school gate, doors, and the amusement park gate are all open.
* OrphanageOfFear: The way Madam Margot ignores the children and feeds them the bare minimum to stay alive, it certainly seems like Woodrow Children’s Asylum could easily be this if not for Christopher taking care of the children and making sure they’re as happy as possible.
%% * PapaWolf: Christopher to Mickey.
* PeekABooCorpse: Stanley, the corpse in the hospital that falls out of the cabinet.
%% * ParentalAbandonment: Most, if not all, of the children at Woodrow Asylum.
* PersonalHorror: Christopher is horrified by the idea that [[spoiler: his sexual orientation may be apparent to everyone on the island]].
* PostRapeTaunt: [[spoiler: Prima mocks Christopher about being raped]].
* PrimalFear: The book was built around them. [[AdultFear Losing a child]], the dark, [[GoMadFromTheIsolation being isolated]], being raped/date-raped, spiders, clowns, and being buried alive are just a few.
* PsychicPowers: [[spoiler: Michael, and Matthew is implied to be clairvoyant]]
%% * PsychologicalHorror
%% * QuestionableConsent: [[spoiler:It isn't elaborated upon but is implied that Christopher didn't fight Michael's advances. However, he was drunk and unable to consent]].
* RantInducingSlight: [[spoiler:Christopher calling Michael ‘Mickey’ sets him on quite a rant.]]
* RapeAsBackstory: [[spoiler:If one pays close attention to some of Christopher's mental comments and his fears, it becomes apparent that he was sexually abused in the past]].
* RapeAsDrama: [[spoiler:First when Morgan attempts to rape Christopher and then when Michael actually does]].
* RapeDiscretionShot: We don’t actually see [[spoiler:Michael]] rape Christopher, just incriminating flashbacks. It is confirmed but not shown.
* RedHerring: A lot of clues seem to just kind of fizzle out into irrelevancy after they are discovered, or, once their meaning is known (like the Sandman poem), are fairly irrelevant anyway. Even if one takes them as trying to lead Christopher to [[spoiler:realize that Michael IS Mickey, his memories have been altered so that he can’t remember or figure it out no matter how plainly it’s spelled out for him, and there’s no way for the readers to put it together because they don’t have the prior knowledge that Michael does]].
%% * SanitySlippage: Christopher (and arguably the entire town) as the story progresses.
%% * ScaryFlashlightFace: Done by Christopher's boss of all people
%% * SerialKiller: Half the island
%% * SerialRapist: The other half, if it's not both
* ShoutOut:
** Christopher and Mickey's names (Christopher Robinson and Mickey Walters) are references to Disney. Made even more clear when Madam Margot mistakenly introduces Mickey as [[WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck Donald]] in one of the flash backs.
** The use of the Sandman poem to ''VideoGame/AmericanMcGeesAlice'', specifically ''Madness Returns''. The poem isn't exactly the same, though; the one used here is the actual nursery rhyme.
** The part with the children in the school building is a reference to the Vocaloid song "Circle You".
** Several to the ''Franchise/SilentHill'' series.
*** A story about a man searching a strange town for a lost child? [[VideoGame/SilentHill1 Why is that so familiar?]]
*** The [[spoiler:doll monsters that Mary and Joseph turn into at the end]] are very similar to the Scarlet boss battle in ''VideoGame/SilentHillHomecoming''.
** One to ''Film/TheGrudge'' and other such Japanese horror films in the school chapter when a StringyHairedGhostGirl crawls down the stairs.
%% ** There are also references to ''Film/JacobsLadder''.
%% ** Several to Stephen King books and slasher films.
%% * SinisterScrapingSound
%% * SlasherSmile: [[spoiler:Prima]] has one you can practically ''see''. [[spoiler:Her]] original concept art shows [[spoiler:her]] with one as well.
%% * StrappedToAnOperatingTable
%% * TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow: [[spoiler:The book ends with Michael [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou addressing, or at least acknowledging, the audience]]. Whether his ability to do so is part of his psychic powers is unknown]].
%% * TomatoInTheMirror: [[spoiler:Christopher gets ranted at about this]].
* TroublingUnChildLikeBehavior: Mickey is unusually mature for his age, and some of the drawings and notes Christopher finds in the school are so disturbing that they aren't described
* UnreliableNarrator: As Christopher begins to lose his mind, it becomes less clear if certain events are actually happening or if he's just hallucinating them. There's also TheReveal, which shows that [[spoiler:Christopher was just made up of what Michael remembers about his caretaker and everything that's happened is a dream that's on a GroundhogDayLoop]].
%% * WhatDidIDoLastNight
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Christopher's crawl through the tunnel to get out of the hospital seems fairly mild, but gets worse if one considers his severe phobia of bugs.
----
''Sleep well.''
