The core conflict arises when local men's behavior escalates into harassment and threat, trapping the women in an increasingly dangerous situation. This premise directly positions gender dynamics as the central source of tension, with the two female leads driving the narrative through their navigation of control and vulnerability. Director Kitty Green's established focus on feminist themes of power dynamics and misconduct, seen in her prior film The Assistant, shapes the story's intent around these elements. The casting of two female leads in a thriller reinforces how gender serves as the foundational driver of conflict rather than incidental character detail, resulting in a moderate woke score that reflects the thematic emphasis without overwhelming the entire premise.