The film contains no discernible LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisnormative identities. The narrative focuses strictly on the protagonist's survival, offering no exploration of queer identities.

The story centers almost exclusively on the male experience of survival and science. Female characters lack agency, appearing mostly through memory or as casualties of the outbreak.

The cast is predominantly homogeneous, focusing on a white male protagonist. The film fails to utilize New York City's diverse demographic landscape to inform its character arcs.

The film depicts the collapse of Western institutions through a lens of rugged individualism. The alternate ending suggests a burgeoning social structure among the Darkseekers, challenging human-centric binaries.

Representation is minimal and tied to the post-apocalyptic setting. The Darkseekers function as a biological collective rather than characters with nuanced depictions of physical or neurodivergent disability.