Gender Representaions

Males are often represented as the antagonist of the narrative (the character who opposes the protagonist). They are also represented often as the protagonist. This might be because men are seen as able to cope with dangerous situations better than women however we might think this because females are often played as the victim of thriller films.
The females are usually played by a young actress and are seen as vulnerable and in need of being saved by a male protagonist. A good example of a typical female character is the daughter in the film 'Taken'. In this film, a retired CIA agent has to track down his daughter across Europe who was kidnapped while on holiday with her friend. The daughter is only 17 years old and is seen as helpless so her father who is portrayed as the reserved, intimidating ex-agent has to save her from the male kidnappers who are dangerous criminals.

In Alfred Hitchcock's films, all the females are presented as vulnerable and unable to save themselves. For example, in Psycho the main female character is killed off quickly, showing that she is defenceless and the fact that she was talking to the antagonist before she was killed in the shower scene also presents her as social and sensitive. This is the main female characteristics that is portrayed in most thriller films; being sociable, sensitive and defenceless.
The males in the film Psycho are portrayed as considerate to saving the female and willing to face the antagonist to solve the case. The are seen as more wary of who the antagonist might be and unafraid of facing him.