Gillian Flynn's screenplay and novel feature Amy Dunne's elaborate revenge plot, including her fabricated diary and the 'Cool Girl' monologue critiquing performative femininity, alongside Nick's infidelity and the couple's strained marriage, but these elements serve the story's dark satire on relationships and sensationalism without activist framing or calls to dismantle norms. The complex female lead receives in-story justification for her actions as a flawed antagonist rather than any forced empowerment narrative. Thematic exploration of gender and marriage remains incidental, emerging through plot and character psychology instead of systemic critiques or identity politics.

Standard 2014 casting avoids any established character race or gender swaps and features no prominent non-traditional identity representation as focal points, keeping the focus squarely on entertainment and suspense. This approach results in a low woke score by prioritizing narrative drive over contemporary political messaging.