The novel subverts horror tropes by making its protagonists aware of them, turning their knowledge of classic horror into a survival tool. The characters can anticipate the villain's moves based on their understanding of horror conventions.

The story explores how friendship dynamics evolve under extreme pressure, as the teenagers must rely on each other while facing a supernatural threat and dealing with rising paranoia.

The novel demonstrates that true courage comes from facing one's fears rather than lacking them, as characters confront their mortality and the potential loss of loved ones.