Pretty Lethal presents a positive queer romance between ballerinas Bones and Princess, transforming rivalry into an affirming partnership that drives the story's empowerment narrative. The WLW dynamic receives supportive framing in a girl-power thriller, highlighting dignity and mutual strength without mockery or degradation.

Multiple female ballerina characters defeat male opponents in several close-quarters physical confrontations, employing dance-derived martial arts and improvised melee weapons like razor blades in pointe shoes.

The film favorably depicts the ballet troupe as a chosen family that unites through shared adversity, emphasizing protective sibling bonds and collective empowerment over isolation. Criminal biological families are shown as sources of violence and revenge, underscoring a preference for non-traditional relational structures.

Christianity receives a sympathetic portrayal through Grace, a devout ballerina whose faith instills a strict moral code that bolsters her resilience in combat. The narrative frames her religious convictions as a source of strength, enabling her to engage in necessary violence to protect her friends without mockery or condemnation.