Storybreakers

About Storybreakers

Storybreakers - Hosted by Chris Brennan Storybreakers is the show where writers, filmmakers, and horror lovers come together to invent brand-new film ideas, completely off the top of their heads. Each episode, Chris Brennan is joined by a special guest to “break story” live, building an original concept from cold open to final scare. From reimagining classic franchises like Halloween to creating twisted new seasonal originals in the Holiday Horror Run, Storybreakers blends screenwriting, creativity, and chaos into one cinematic brainstorming session. Whether you’re a filmmaker, screenwriter, or just love great movie ideas, Storybreakers is your backstage pass to the story development process: raw, fast, and fun. Subscribe and join the story.

Publisher

Storybreakers

Category

tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

10 Jan 2015

Latest episode

16 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

104 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Jan 2026

   What If Halloween Was an Anthology Again? Breaking a Radical New Direction | w/ Paul Bushe

   What if the future of Halloween isn’t another reboot or sequel… but a return to its original, abandoned idea? In this episode of Storybreakers, Chris Brennan is joined by filmmaker Paul Bushe to break story on a bold new direction for the Halloween franchise, completely improvised and off the top of our heads. Instead of Michael Myers, timelines, or cult lore, we explore the idea of reviving Halloween as a yearly anthology series, just as John Carpenter originally intended. From there, we crack a full feature-length concept set in the 1800s, centered on Irish immigration, wrongful quarantine, disease, superstition, and a tragic curse that unfolds around October 31st. Over the course of the session, we build a complete story together, including: Why Halloween works best as an anthology franchise The problems with endless timelines and retroactive lore A period-set Halloween story rooted in history and folklore A sympathetic villain driven by grief, revenge, and manipulation A demonic curse tied to festival rituals, masks, and disease A dark, tragic climax set during a Halloween bonfire This episode is a deep dive into why simplicity matters in horror, how franchises lose their way, and how Halloweencould evolve without losing its soul. If you enjoy hearing film ideas come together in real time, this one’s for you. Check out more Storybreakers episodes and the full Halloween playlist on YouTube.

2. 

   9 Jan 2026

   Halloween 1979: A Fresh Take on Halloween II | w/ Cody Leach

   What do you do after Halloween Ends… when the franchise has already explored every timeline imaginable? In this episode of Storybreakers, Chris Brennan is joined by YouTube horror creator Cody Leach to break story on the next possible chapter of the Halloween franchise, completely improvised and off the top of our heads. The idea starts with a bold question: What if the next film is a direct sequel to the original 1978 Halloween, set one year later, with no Laurie Strode, no family motive, and a return to Michael Myers as a motiveless force of evil? From there, we build a full story together in real time, including: A 1979 period sequel that continues the night Michael disappeared Reintroducing Dr. Loomis through obsession, tapes, and unfinished business New teenage protagonists navigating a fearful Haddonfield one year later Copycat Michael costumes, foggy streets, curfews, and false sightings A graveyard climax tied to Judith Myers and Sheriff Brackett’s past An ending that leans slightly into the supernatural without repeating past mistakes This session is a deep dive into why Halloween works, what and how simplicity, atmosphere, and restraint could bring the franchise back to its roots. If you love Halloween, behind-the-scenes franchise talk, or listening to story ideas come together live, this one’s for you. Follow Cody Leach on YouTube for horror reviews, rankings, and deep franchise breakdowns. And check out more Storybreakers episodes wherever you listen to podcasts.

3. 

   3 Jan 2026

   Cracking A Fresh Halloween 4 Sequel | w/ Drumdums Lee McCoy

   Storybreakers is back, and this episode is pure Halloween geek heaven. Chris Brennan is joined by Lee McCoy from DrumDums, one of YouTube’s most passionate Halloween voices, to break story on the next chapter of the franchise, completely improvised and off the top of our heads. We start with Lee’s personal connection to the series (including seeing Halloween 4 in theaters in 1988), his love for the atmosphere of Halloween 6 (and his fan edit, the Blue Myers Cut), then we dive into the big swing: What if the franchise continued as a true sequel to Halloween 4, with an adult Jamie Lloyd returning to Haddonfield, the evil still inside her, and a new figure stepping in as the heir to Dr. Loomis? We talk structure, themes, set pieces, and what makes Halloween feel like Halloween (trick or treaters included). By the end, we’ve got a clean pitch for a modern Jamie story that goes dark, stays simple, and brings back the missing ingredient the franchise has lacked for years. Follow Lee McCoy (DrumDums) on YouTube, and check out more Storybreakers episodes on YouTube for clips and full sessions.

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.