Alice (1988)

Review by Adam C. Thomas



Directed by Jan Svankmajer
We all know the story of Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland". Most of us grew up knowing of the Disney version, and grew fond of the whimsical characters portrayed therein. However, Svankmajer's vision here is far more surreal. The Disney version, undoubtedly the most famous of the film versions, was aimed at children. The characters, no matter how dark and devious they may have seemed, were presented in a child friendly manner. The Cheshire Cat, the characteristic embodiment of hedonistic curiosity, was just creepy enough to be interesting, but not so much that he overstepped the boundary. The Queen of Hearts, who was everything evil and iron-fisted rolled up into one hot mess, was endearing because her cries of "Off with their head!" were rather over the top, and therefore funny to the targeted demographic. Everything about this version warmed childrens hearts, and created many iconic characters, much like Disney has been known to do.

However, this version is decidedly more abstract and tortured. Svankmajer presents a version of the film that is dirty, creepy, and entertaining because of it. The stop motion animation is enough to give even the most hardened horror fan a couple nights of tossing and turning. This is just so out there, it stays with you. From the beginning, when Alice is tossing rocks into the pond, to the very end, you can't pull yourself away. The one scene that really sticks out for me, though, is the tea party. Marionettes portray the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, and we all know how disturbing puppets are. The manic chaos developed in this scene is even more unsettling when you factor in the stringed limbs, and the floppy mouths. The Mad Hatter bouncing from seat to seat, demanding a clean teacup. The March Hare is a windup toy, and when his eye falls out, he simply gets re-wound, and continues in the craziness. This movie didn't have many actual lines, and one thing you will never forget about this movie is the insertion of a pair of lips, presumably Alice's mother, but only coming on to tell when someone has said something, i.e. "Said the March Hare." It was unique, and fit the bizarre tone of the film very well.

I know this is a horror movie website, and i'm supposed to review horror movies, but I just couldn't pass this one up. It was unsettling enough to be considered some sort of psychological terror. If you weren't convinced Carroll was on some sort of opiate-derived substance when he penned this literary gem, you need look no further than "Alice". It's all the proof you'll need. I give this one 6/10.