The film lacks explicit LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative romantic arcs. The story focuses strictly on the protagonist's undercover mission and the gendered experience of the asylum.

Nellie Bly serves as a powerful driver of the plot, navigating male-dominated journalism and psychiatric administration. The film portrays female agency as a corrective force against patriarchal systemic incompetence.

Set in the late 19th century, the narrative focuses on the socioeconomic plight of impoverished women. It lacks significant racial intersectionality within the primary character arcs.

The film critiques Western medical and psychiatric systems of the late 1800s. It portrays these institutions as corrupt, oppressive structures that require external scrutiny to ensure justice.

The film offers a nuanced look at mental health by focusing on systemic mistreatment. It avoids tropes by portraying patients as victims of a broken system rather than mere plot devices.