The film adheres strictly to mid-century heteronormative conventions. The narrative is built around a traditional romantic triangle with no evidence of same-sex intimacy or non-cisnormative identities.

Female protagonists drive the emotional stakes, yet their agency remains tethered to male leads. The story reinforces traditional romantic hierarchies rather than subverting gendered power dynamics.

Set in colonial French Indochina, the perspective remains centered on French characters. Southeast Asian actors appear in supporting roles, but the local population serves primarily as an exoticized backdrop.

The film operates within a Western framework that portrays colonial structures as the established social order. It lacks systemic critique or the deconstruction of Western institutions.

Themes of psychological instability and physical transformation function as horror tropes. These elements serve the plot rather than providing a nuanced portrayal of neurodivergence or lived experience.