The Brew | Death of cinema? • Horror's killer year • Screenwriter's waiting game

5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where Cole Haddon - veteran screenwriter (creator, 'Dracula') and novelist ('Psalms for the End of the World') - discusses the highs and lows of his life as an artist and human being living and creating in Australia.On the itinerary today (Feb. 10, 2026):America in the shitter, the death of neoliberalism, and racism on the march in AustraliaArtists answer the call...or would if not for billionairesStill waiting for notes on my pilotWhat happened to all the personal projects I hoped to tackle during my break from this podcast?Awards season screeners - wah wahThe problem with ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’, if there is oneThe death of nuance and subtlety in cinema according to NetflixFilm students who can’t watch films anymoreWhy you should resist the instinct toward ‘content’-style storytellingWes Craven’s philosophy about horrorHorror’s triumphant year in 2025 (i.e., ‘Sinners’, ‘Frankenstein’, ‘Weapons’, and more)The impact of real-life horror on my work (and yours?)SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'⁠⁠⁠https://colehaddon.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠You'll gain access to both the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter and all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928⁠⁠⁠A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a foundational artwork from their lives.TIP JARNot up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKSRead 'The Film Students Who Can No Longer Sit Through Films' at The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/college-students-movies-attention-span/685812/SOCIAL MEDIAFollow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…⁠⁠5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/⁠⁠⁠Cole Haddon @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere⁠⁠⁠EMAIL⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠-5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded.This podcast's music is provided by my brilliant friend Cary Brothers⁠⁠. ⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/