The film contains no LGBTQ+ characters or romantic pairings. The narrative focuses entirely on military and clinical hierarchies, offering no queer-coded subtext or identity-based storytelling.

Female characters primarily serve as victims or catalysts for the male protagonist's actions. Authority remains concentrated in male military and scientific roles, reinforcing traditional wartime hierarchies.

The cast is predominantly East Asian, centering Chinese victims and Japanese military personnel. This provides authentic demographic representation for the specific historical context of occupied China.

The film critiques state-sanctioned violence and the corruption of scientific institutions. It deconstructs the idea of 'civilized' military conduct by portraying scientists as predatory antagonists.

Disability is depicted through the lens of extreme physical trauma from biological experiments. These impairments serve as narrative tools to illustrate brutality rather than providing characters with agency.