History YMMV / AmongTheSleep

* CounterpartComparison: Some people have noted the trench coat monster's visual similarities to [[WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog Car Broke Phone Yes]].

** Also the trenchcoat monster which, while terrifying, [[spoiler:may just be trying to get you to safety, since it represents the father who wishes to get his son out of the abusive household.]] This interpretation varies, however. In the DLC, the [[spoiler:father himself isn't shown as abusive towards his son, but he is shown fighting with the mother, with one glowing image implying he even hits her. It's unknown if this fighting is a result of or cause of the mother's alcoholism.]]

*** On a similar level, the living trenchcoat and its GlowingEyesOfDoom, especially since you only encounter it in an area where there are lots of other trenchcoats, and unlike the black thing it actively ''hunts'' you. [[spoiler:And that's your father, the hunting behavior is a representation of his repeated attempts at getting custody of you.]]

* NightmareRetardant: The trench-coats everywhere are kinda creepy until you start thinking about how ridiculous it would be for someone to own ''that many trench-coats'' in the first place. Does mom work in Film/TheMatrix or something?
** The unnatural number of them can still come across as creepy, though. Early on in the game, without knowing the ending, you might think that they were monsters lying in wait.

* BrokenBase: TheReveal at the end of the DLC story that [[spoiler:the child's father was abusive to the child's mother. While some like it, a lot of people don't because [[AllAbusersAreMale it's so incredibly predictable, widespread and cliche]], contributes little to the story, and brings the more shocking reveal of the original game more in line with what the player originally expected. It also leaves the player with nobody to root for but the child themself]].

** Added to this, Creator commentary provided the game's enhanced edition suggests that [[spoiler:neither the mother nor the father handled the breakdown of their relationship well, but this still makes it unclear how the father is as, well, a father.]]

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: [[spoiler:Since we know very little about the father, we have no idea what kind of guy he is. Is he a better parent than his alcoholic ex-wife or is he just as bad? What did the slap in the DLC mean? Was he shocked to learn his wife was an alcoholic or is he just as or more abusive than her? If he is abusive, will he be abusive towards his child or did he get help in between the divorce and the end of the game]]?

* FridgeHorror : [[spoiler: Maybe it's a good thing that we don't see the Toddler's face. Considering the fact that they were abused for a long time, they may be disfigured]].

* FridgeHorror : [[spoiler: Maybe it's a good thing that we don't see the Toddler's face. Considering the fact that they were abused for a long time, they may be disfigured]]

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: [[spoiler:Since we know very little about the father, we have no idea what kind of guy he is. Is he a better parent than his alcoholic ex-wife or is he just as bad? What did the slap in the DLC mean? Was he shocked to learn his wife was an alcoholic or is he just as or more abusive than her? If he is abusive, will he be abusive towards his child or did he get help in between the divorce and the end of the game?]]
* BrokenBase: TheReveal at the end of the DLC story that [[spoiler:the child's father was abusive to the child's mother. While some like it, a lot of people don't because [[AllAbusersAreMale it's so incredibly predictable, widespread and cliche]], contributes little to the story, and brings the more shocking reveal of the original game more in line with what the player originally expected. It also leaves the player with nobody to root for but the child themself.]]

* FridgeBrilliance: Crossed with Foreshadowing, in the very beginning of the game, before the baby goes to sleep, you can see that [[spoiler: the mother isn't wearing a ring, but you can also see the tanline where it would be if she had it on. Combined with the InterfaceScrew when the mother goes to answer the door and starts yelling]] perceptive gamers might pick up on the general plot of the game long before they reach the end.
** [[spoiler: One spends much of the game thinking "why is this Toddler not screaming in fear? This is really unrealistic." When you see the ending you finally realize the Toddler has learned not to cry or yell to avoid their mother's drunken and/or hungover rage.]]
-->'''Teddy:''' We have to be very quiet. [[HarsherInHindsight You don't know what might be listening.]]

* FridgeHorror : [[spoiler: Maybe it's a good thing that we don't see the Toddler's face; considering the fact that they were abused for a long time, they may be disfigured]]

* BrokenBase: TheReveal at the end of the DLC story that [[spoiler:the child's father was abusive to the child's mother. While some like it, a lot of people don't because [[AllAbusersAreMale it's so incredibly predictable, widespread and cliche]], contributes little to the story, and brings the more shocking reveal of the original game more in line with what the player originally expected. It also leaves the player with nobody to root for but the child himself.]]

* FridgeHorror : [[spoiler: Maybe it's a good thing that we don't see the Toddler's face; considering the fact that he was abused for a long time, he may be disfigured]]

* TheWoobie: The toddler, a witness of frightening imagery and terrifying monsters, [[spoiler: and is an abused child who is too innocent to comprehend what's happening around him]].

* RewatchBonus:
** [[spoiler: The numerous bottles]] laying around your house also take on a whole new meaning on a second playthrough.
* {{Tearjerker}}: The reveal that [[spoiler:the mother was an alcoholic and lashed out at her kid when frustrated]] is downright depressing, and can hit close to home for some players who have experienced something similiar.

* FridgeHorror : [[spoiler: Maybe it's a good thing that we don't see the Toddler's face, considering the fact that he was abused for a long time, he may be disfigured]]

* FridgeHorror : [[spoiler: Maybe it's a good thing that we don't see the Toddler's face, considering the fact that he was abused for a long time, he's may be disfigured]]

* RewatchBonus: In the opening the mother gets Teddy from the child's father and is clearly angry that he's there, implying that the father is a deadbeat or was abusive (though those are hardly the only two reasons why two people end up divorced). [[spoiler:The ending makes you question which parent, if any, is sympathetic.]]

* HellIsThatNoise: The sound of glass breaking becomes your worst nightmare by the end.

* NightmareRetardant: The trench-coats everywhere are kinda creepy until you start thinking about how ridiculous it would be for someone to own ''that many trench-coats'' in the first place. Does mom work in Film/TheMatrix or something? (Brought to you by [[JesseCox Jesse Cox's]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pnX242-KOA Let's Play]] of the game).

* VideoGameCaringPotential: [[spoiler:clicking the mother a second time after you retrieve the bear from her causes the child to stroke her hair in an affectionate manner.]]

* Video Game Caring Potential: [[spoiler:clicking the mother a second time after you retrieve the bear from her causes the child to stroke her hair in an affectionate manner.]]

* Video Game Kindness Potential: [[spoiler:clicking the mother a second time after you retrieve the bear from her causes the child to stroke her hair in an affectionate manner.]]