Alice Madness Returns: An Introspective

Trigger warnings include: death in the family, references to child sexual abuse and exploitation, mental illness, and psychiatric hospitalization.

Alice Madness Returns is a 2011 cross-platform game created by American McGee. Considered a gothic cult classic, the game is a firm favourite with both old and new fans. A recent surge in popularity has tempted me to explore the game myself, and upon completion, it is a far cry from Lewis Carroll’s classic and whimsical tale. The game follows Alice Lidell, an orphaned girl in the slums of Victorian England, as she traverses two realities, that of a dying wonderland and that of the “real” world, while attempting to uncover the truth behind the death of her family. The game deals with a variety of mental illnesses, childhood sexual abuse and exploitation, child violence, and death in the family. American McGee, the game’s creator, has confirmed that Alice’s dark themes stem from his dysfunctional childhood, which saw a “bizarre” series of events, including his biological father assaulting him and attempting to “gouge out” his eyes. The game is visually incredible with a touch of gothic from character design to locations to Alice’s various dresses. The soundtrack is beautiful and the story dark and emotional, overall I loved this game and even more so Alice’s fight against the trauma that threatens to destroy her.

A look into Alice’s wonderland seems magical but messy at first, as the game starts off relatively peaceful, an enchanted forest with a flowing river and a snarky grinning cheshire cat as our guide. However, as we continue something seems off, black goo is infecting wonderland and turning itself into enemies. Enemies and friends are being destroyed and residents are worried, they know something is wrong and it’s up to Alice to save it.

The game doesn’t shy away from the reality of child abuse and the devastating effects that survivors carry with them into adulthood. This theme of abuse is never far from Alice, as one of the opening sequences features children on the streets with cardboard signs around their necks, walking sexual advertisements. Another example of this is the recurring doll enemies, as you play through the game you smash broken dolls and destroy baby doll heads. Perhaps a reference to how Alice’s childhood was destroyed, her youth taken away in the house fire that took her family’s lives.

The horror of the game lies in the mystery and clues as Alice tries to recall information about her past. At the end of each level there is a fiery door that you can walk through, revealing more tidbits. Visions of this trauma are consistent and violent, with Alice trying to piece together the little clues she has. These flashbacks seem to be reminiscent of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), as Alice is haunted by the flickering of this devastating fire. Alice’s memories are also something you can collect throughout the game, some in plain sight and some hidden with dialogue from her family, psychiatrist, and other doctors. Mental illness is always present, with some fans theorizing that Alice could be suffering from Schizophrenia or acute psychosis due to her “visions” of Wonderland. There is also a very disturbing sequence towards the end of the game where Alice is wearing a straitjacket, her head is shaved, and her face is stained with tears. As you walk through the halls of the asylum where she previously resided, it is clear that Alice has suffered greatly from the attempts of others to ‘cure’ her mental illness.

Perhaps the greatest metaphor in the game is the train. It is huge, dark and fiery, its carriages resembling gothic cathedrals. It races through wonderland, leaving destruction and fire in its wake. The train represents Alice’s trauma, her mental illness, everything that is wrong in her life that has destroyed her inner world. Throughout the game, Alice is urged to catch up to the train, and in fact, that is what holds the truth, what Alice has been striving for all along. When Alice boards the train at the conclusion of the game, there is a battle with the final boss, Dr. Bumby, the psychiatrist who runs the orphanage. He eventually takes the form of a puppeteer, and is one both physically and figuratively. He has been abusing Alice and her fellow orphans through hypnosis in order to sexually exploit them for profit and for his own gratification. To Alice’s horror, it also turns out that Dr. Bumby is the only one who is truly the same. Bumby sexually abused her younger sister and when she rejected him, he set fire to the Lidells’ house and killed them all. He has power over these children and Alice, but he ultimately pays the price when Alice defeats him.

Alice’s journey is one of dark acceptance, but not forgiveness. The truth about her family, her own sexual exploitation and mental illness is revealed and the cause is destroyed, but Alice is still trapped in an uncertain world, where it seems as if London has been taken over by Wonderland, half reality, half fantasy. But for now, Alice seems content that her main adversary is gone. I think the story of Alice Madness Returns is dark, disturbing, relatable and therapeutic to play. The game has some heavy themes that may not be for everyone, but it is encouraging to see Alice fight to save her safe inner world and anyone with a love of the gothic will certainly enjoy the game, as I did.

In the end it all comes down to this: save Wonderland so you can save yourself.