The film adheres to 1940s heteronormative structures. There is no evidence of non-cisnormative identities or same-sex intimacy, as romantic arcs center on traditional male-female dynamics.

Female characters possess emotional complexity and agency within volatile relationships. However, the film does not actively subvert traditional hierarchies or critique systemic gender roles.

The cast and setting are predominantly white and Anglo-Saxon. The narrative lacks characters of color in positions of agency, reflecting the homogeneous social landscape of the era.

The story offers a noir-typical cynicism toward the American Dream. It portrays the struggle of reintegrating into a stable society as a fraught and often failing process.

Perry’s loss of leg function serves as a focal point for the narrative. The film uses his disability to drive character pathos and psychological struggle.