Part of what makes Passing so suspenseful is how Irene Redfield straddles the colour line by living life passing as a white woman while still seeking the comfort of the Black community she was once part of — and risking her racist husband uncovering her secret at every turn. In Queen & Slim, the two main characters are forced to go on the run after shooting a cop in self-defence. While the story is far more high-stakes, it builds suspense from its characters doing everything they can to survive in a prejudiced society, much like Passing does.