While 'Rust Creek' centers on a female protagonist in a survival thriller, it doesn't fall into the trap of making her unrealistically overpowered or flawless. Her struggle is grounded, and her quick thinking feels earned, though the decision to put a college student solo in the woods strains credulity a little. Overall, character and narrative take priority over box-checking.

Traditional values like family and resilience are present but not directly attacked or ridiculed. Gender roles are subverted by having a woman as the central survivor, but the film doesn’t appear to mock masculinity or religious values overtly. Still, it's another notch in the belt for 'strong independent heroine' tropes.

The film avoids overt political posturing. No particular worldview is villainized or excessively championed, the antagonists are just criminals. There’s an absence of culture war sermonizing, and most characters are presented with a degree of complexity.