The narrative follows classic genre conventions of resource scavenging, interpersonal conflicts, and zombie attacks without any foundational premise or character arcs tied to identity politics, systemic oppression, or critiques of traditional norms. Casting includes Sarah Polley as nurse Ana Clark, Ving Rhames as police sergeant Kenneth Hall, Mekhi Phifer as Andre, and others in an ensemble that reflects typical 2004 Hollywood diversity for a large group survival story; these choices are incidental to the plot and carry no narrative justification or foregrounding as statements.

Director Zack Snyder and the cast emphasized action, tension, and visual style over messaging, with the film notably stripped of the original 1978 Romero satire on consumerism. No race- or gender-swaps of established characters occur, no LGBTQ+ elements or pronoun concepts appear, and reception focused on its entertainment value as a remake rather than any activist intent or backlash.