All Things Alice/Alyss: The Darkness in Wonderland

Seasons greetings & creepy dreamings to you from the shady side of Wondertropolis. Against his better judgement Frank has allowed me to once more correspond with all you to bring forth further creepiness for your consumption.

It seems the darkly imaginative amongst you continue to have a morbid interest in the eerie and disturbed visions of Alice in Wonderland. So, for your dark delight the dark thinkers of Wonderland have provided a listing of creepy collectables for your cabinet of curiosities.

The long shadow of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has provided ample material for creators across the Continuum to commit their mad vision of Wonderland in physical form; seems no matter where one goes through the looking glass, people insist on carving scary things into clay or crystal alike.

Now do read on and see what delights your dark imaginations…

TARA MAPES’ DARK ALICE

First up for your viewing delight is a wonderfully grim vision of Alice in Wonderland’s characters through the eye of photographer Tara Mapes. The artist took the world as presented by that author Lewis Carroll, and reinterpreted Alice, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, the Rabbit, and Mad Hatter of Wonderland in a macabre fashion one might expect to see of the “shadow people” that inhabit the realm of lucid dreams & sleep paralysis.

I admit however, it is not hard to see the stylings of Queen Redd or even the meaner of Milliners in this body of work. Whether it is together, or in their solo photographs, the various characters of Alice in Wonderland shine through with a darkly gothic flair that makes fine use of eerie masks and painful-looking jewelry that emphasizes some of the key traits of these beloved maniacs.

The Mad Tea Party as created by Tara Mapes
The Mad Tea Party as created by Tara Mapes

The dark allure of this photo collection does remind this one of the cover art used by those famed “metal bands” of Earth that shout their dark imaginings to all who will hear them. If any of these grim details entice your imagination, this one does recommend you take a peek through your looking glass at Mapes’ lucid dreaming of Alice in Wonderland.

MEZCO SCARY TALES FIGURINES

Next in line are a series of miniature sculptures from famed toy-makers at Mezco; figurines I’m told, that depict some notable faces of Wonderland in quite the nasty light. Grimy is the word of the day and most certainly in the best of ways as the usual culprits of Wonderland’s “action” are given gruesome detail by these dark toy-makers. One of the most popular items in this collection by Mezco is of course, that Mad Hatter with his tea-time tools and looking like he has been indulging in the jabberwocky blood.

The Mad Hatter Figurine by Mezco Scary Tales
The Mad Hatter Figurine by Mezco Scary Tales

Though this one is most certain that Queen Alyss would make a face as harsh as the Chessboard Desert if she ever saw how the Mezco toy-makers indulged their “creative liberties” but what can you expect from such dark thinkers. The “White Rabbit” is rendered equally mad, looking more like a feral beast of the Boarderlands than any scholar (I am quite sure Royal tutor Bibwit Harte would not find this in any shape or form reflective of himself… and would take all day to expound on 1001 reasons why). Depending on who you ask, these colorful figurines may just show you Wonderland with its notable figures expressing their darker selves.

The White Rabbit Figurine by Mezco Scary Tales
The White Rabbit Figurine by Mezco Scary Tales

So if you have room on your shelves, this one would recommend trying to uncover one of these fiendish figurines of your favorite Alice in Wonderland characters. Just be sure to hide them when the Guardsmen come looking for all sorts of dark contraband you may or may not be holding onto for a friend.

RALPH STEADMAN’S ALICE IN WONDERLAND

If you are in the market for a more subtle shadow on your bookshelf, then this most novel take on Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland paired along with the delightfully deranged illustrations of one Ralph Steadman, could be just the thing for your creepy collection.

If that name rings a dark bell in your memory, then perhaps you might best know Steadman as the illustrator who lent his brush to the gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. The energetic, almost manic, style of the illustrations, as well as Steadman’s own dry sense of humor bring a 1960s-70s wildness to the familiar words of the Wonderland novels.

The Mad Hatter drawn by Ralph Steadman
The Mad Hatter drawn by Ralph Steadman

Steadman would take his inks to the pages of the Alice in Wonderland series and reintroduce us dark thinkers to an anarchic and erratic world that perhaps commented more on the rulers of his realm than those in power here. The “White Rabbit” is a modern commuter, the “Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dumb” are nonsensical bankers, and as Steadman’s illustrations take the reader through the looking glass we are presented with a harsh new Wonderland of “hippies” and new age romantics set against the unforgiving chessboard backgrounds.

We dark thinkers are quite fond of this version of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland & Alice Through the Looking Glass as they present the skewed vision of Wonderland further darkened by the elegantly mad art of Steadman. Why an unknowing reader might pick up these familiar looking books, only to open their pages and be treated to a grimly beautiful vision of Wonderland in all the shades of black-and-white one could desire.

ALICE’S NIGHTMARE IN WONDERLAND

Finally on our dreadful list is a wondrously scary vision of the young Alice in Wonderland and all the frightening choices she must make along the way in this interactive, choose-your-own-adventure gamebook that puts the reader in Alice’s growing & shrinking shoes. Set several years after the events of Lewis Carroll’s novels in Wonderland, the author Jonathan Green revisits the realm beyond the looking glass to find it more deranged than ever. It is up to YOU to decide what risks Alice will take, which of the strange Wonderland denizens to fight, and ultimately whether or not the poor girl will escape the nightmare darkening the realm.

Though if that proves a stretch too stressful for your liking, then you can add a touch of your own brightness to the story with the Alice’s Nightmare in Wonderland coloring book. Here the alternative history of Wonderland is highlighted by the intense illustrations Kev Crossley of 2000AD and Warhammer 40K fame. There are several of these coloring books that one can acquire and reintroduce a bit of child-like darkness into their time.

The Cover of "Alice's Nightmare In Wonderland" by Jonathan Green
The Cover of “Alice’s Nightmare In Wonderland” by Jonathan Green

FINAL THOUGHTS

Our little society of dark imaginers hope that you have found this creepy list of all things Alice in Wonderland, and perhaps you’ll find some of them in your own collections. It brings us much joy to see how the seasonal mood of Earth brings all sorts of dark delights from the imaginations of such talented makers and monsters.

If you enjoyed this taste of the spooky and strange, do show your support of society’s darker imaginings and come back for more. Always remember that you need black to complement the white, and if the Watchers catch you with this list, well you didn’t get it from us.

If you enjoyed this taste of the spooky and strange, do show your support of society’s darker imaginings and come back for more. Always remember that you need dar to complement the white, and if the Watchers catch you with this list, well you didn’t get it from us.

Meet The Author

Marco Arizpe

Marco Arizpe graduated from the University of Southern California and The American Film Institute with degrees in filmmaking and screenwriting. His brand of borderland gothic horror stems from his experiences growing up in a small town where Texas and Mexico meet. Culturally steeped in a rich history of all things terrifying, Marco never fails to bring forward indigenous folklore in contemporary and fresh settings.

Five Frightening Wonderlands To Watch This Halloween

Seasons greetings & dark dreamings to you from the shady side of Wondertropolis.

Though I have been pressured to reveal myself by the powers that be, I will choose to conceal my identity for the time being. Rest assured I would not want to sully your reputation, good reader, by putting my name on your tongue.

As I understand, the people of Earth enjoy watching the dark imaginings of their fellow humans called “horror films,” particularly in the autumn. It seems that across the Continuum, there are those who justly support your right to express the shadowy side of your imagination for all to see.

So, in the spirit of the Earth season, select dark thinkers have helped me provide a lovely listing of blackly comic and heart-wrenching horror films for your curiosity and enjoyment this spooky season. My thanks to Frank for publishing this creepy collection– I suppose for an Alyssian, he isn’t so bad.

With each film on the list presenting their own darkly twisted visions of Alice in Wonderland inspired by Lewis Caroll’s imaginative books, one must wonder just what Alyss was getting up to beyond the looking glass…

Keep an open mind and grab some “popped corn” as we peer through the looking glass into a selection of frightening Wonderlands to watch.

Malice in Wonderland (2009)

Starting off our tour of scary Alice in Wonderland film series is a cheeky vision of Lewis Carroll’s tale fused with the energy & criminal wackiness you might expect in a Guy Ritchie movie. Watch as an amnesiac Alice goes down the rabbit hole of a quirky & violent criminal underworld of a Wonderland hidden within London in this mad film by director Simon Fellows.

Though not a film for viewers of all ages, one can’t help but be amused at the film’s campy rendition of the King/Queen of Hearts as one and the same. If you can take a walk on the wild side without too many expectations, Malice in Wonderland is a fun first watch for those with black imaginations.

Alice in Murderland (2010)

In all honesty, these next two movies make me think the filmmakers were graduates of the Benevolent Home for Lost Girls (high praise to the director Dennis Devine).  In Alice in Murderland, we shift from shocks to schlock as axe murders and an awkwardly themed Alice in Wonderland sorority party will make you reach for the nearest goblet of jabberwocky blood.

There is little mystery to be solved, and a clear “adult” motive to the casting & costuming in this particular Wonderland to such a degree that I can’t help but laugh. Perhaps this is a tea party best enjoyed by a few mad friends who appreciate a bad joke, as the ridiculous violence and premise are sure to delight those with a tweedled sense of humor.

Alice – The Darker Side of the Mirror (2016)

Bouncing back from schlock but not completely, we have The Darker Side of the Mirror directed by Zach Hamer. Presenting the Lewis Carroll story through the lens of turn-of-the-century America as its setting, this film touches on heavier topics with a more serious tone. The setting allows many of Earth’s troubling habits such as addiction and mental health mistreatment in a way that many interpretations of the characters of Alice in Wonderland lack.

However, this is offset by the grandiose theatre troupe performances of the residents of Wonderland present a bit cartoonish in the quiet Pacific Northwest setting. On the other hat, the grand scope of the history & locations is ambitious and manages to get across the idea of a darkly mad world.

Alice [Něco z Alenky] (1988)

If you find the previous films far to tame and desire a Wonderland that is darkly imaginative and visually fantastic, then you have made it to the deepest end of the rabbit hole. The next entry is directed by Jan Švankmajer titled simply: Alice.

Following closer to the events as insisted upon by Lewis Caroll in his Alice in Wonderland, this vision of Alyss childhood adventure frighteningly charming as “kid’s movies” of previous generations tend to be. Using a mix of stop-motion animation and in-camera special effects to bring the perspective of a young child to life, Alice feels more like scary dream from childhood than a children’s story (as it should be).

The fusion of toys and everyday household object to create the familiar faces & characters of Alice in Wonderland never ceases to amaze and unnerve. The “Alice” of this tale herself “transforms” into a doll when shrinking down, making her truly a part of Wonderland as she crawls through desks and doors searching for that white rabbit.

The madcap adventure is capped by the black humor of the young “Alice” of this tale considering taking up the habit of beheading, perhaps as a little hint of what will become of that child’s dark imagination.

Red Kingdom Rising (2014)

If you’ve made it this deep in the list then perhaps you do have a taste for the dark imaginings that Alyss’ adventures have inspired. Assuming you have an appreciation for the black & bleak, this next Wonderland is perhaps the darkest offering we have available. (I dare say, it almost approaches the terror levels that Her Imperial Viciousness Queen Redd inspires).

Not a tale for the faint of heart, Red Kingdom Rising (directed by Navin Dev) dives into the darker drama of life on Earth but begins to blur the border between dreams and the waking world. Here we see a version of the story Alyss told Lewis Carroll through the lens of psychological revelation of trauma. Proceed with caution when you witness a truly black imagination at work.

The fusion of “Alice” and the smiling Cat is a fun, although obvious, portrayal of the character and her inner child still trapped in the Wonderland of her abusive past. In dealing with the grim setting and tone, the cast of this particular Wonderland perform a bit stiffly but are not afraid to really commit to the madness when the narrative flows between dreams and supposed reality.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I hope you will enjoy watching these darker visions of Alice in Wonderland, it is always a joy to see the various shadows from such vivid imaginations on the others side of the Continuum. It seems at any time in history you can find the darkest parts of Wonderland alive and well in the imaginations of many. Strange we don’t see more of Hatter Madigan don’t you agree?

If you enjoyed this taste of the spooky and strange, do show your support of society’s darker imaginings and come back for more. Always remember that you need dark to complement the light… and if the Watchers catch you with this list, well you didn’t get it from me!

Meet The Author

Marco Arizpe

Marco Arizpe graduated from the University of Southern California and The American Film Institute with degrees in filmmaking and screenwriting. His brand of borderland gothic horror stems from his experiences growing up in a small town where Texas and Mexico meet. Culturally steeped in a rich history of all things terrifying, Marco never fails to bring forward indigenous folklore in contemporary and fresh settings.