Gender sterotypes

Psycho 1960.

Nick and Amy Dunne
from Gone Girl.

 Globally there are 2.24 male characters for every 1 female characters. This is particularly evident is psychological thrillers with over 70% of films produce having a male lead. The reason behind this links to old fashioned gender stereotyping of the male being the more intelligent and stronger sex. Therefore the women are more susceptible to vulnerability and therefore rely on the main male protagonist. As time has moved on from gender stereotyping in the style of 1960's Psycho, Women have developed the stereotype of  minced and disturbed such as Amy Dunne from Gone Girl. Where as the stereotype of a male character hasn't developed all that much other than them now having the capability to be shown in a vulnerable and unstable way (Teddy Denials from Shutter island). By having more open stereotypes for the separate genders the audiences of psychological thrillers almost know what to expect from the characters as their plots unfold on screen.