Psycho established many conventions of the horror and thriller genre, including using music to create tension, distorted titles representing a distorted mind, and avoiding specifying a year to suggest it could happen anywhere. The Secret Window also uses these conventions, with zooming in on the main character, titles changing color to represent a sinister atmosphere, and sounds creating tension and reflecting the character's state of mind. It breaks some conventions by starting with action rather than building tension slowly. Misery also establishes mood and tension through its use of red in the titles and setting, unsettling music, and remote isolated setting suggesting the character is cut off from society.