A domestic drama with a bite: Are We Still Married? is a witty, 11-minute look at love, trust, and the logistics of a vampire husband.
The vampire genre is often saturated with high-stakes action or brooding romance, but Kit Steinkellner’s short film Are We Still Married? chooses a far more intimate battleground. Spanning a tight 11 minutes, the short film turns a supernatural transformation into the ultimate marriage counseling session.
Jack (Dustin Milligan) has been bitten by a bat and returns home a vampire. Standing on his own porch, he finds himself barred by the ancient law of invitation. His wife, Laura (Taylor Misiak), is left staring through the glass at a man who looks, sounds, and jokes like her husband, but carries a newfound, lethal hunger. And she has every right to be cautious.
The brilliance of the short lies in its simplicity. By keeping Jack outside and Laura inside, the film creates a physical manifestation of the emotional barriers that exist in any long-term relationship.
Taylor Misiak (Dave) and Dustin Milligan (Schitt’s Creek) are perfectly cast. Their established comedic timing allows them to navigate the absurdity of the situation without losing the emotional weight. Milligan brings a frantic, endearing vulnerability to Jack, while Misiak grounds the film with Laura’s relatable skepticism. Their chemistry is electric, making the humor feel organic rather than forced.
The film isn’t afraid to lean into its genre roots, either. The meta-commentary – including cheeky nods to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Interview With A Vampire, and Twilight – adds a layer of self-aware fun that prevents the impossible choice from feeling too grim.
While the 11-minute runtime is lean and punchy, the premise feels like just the tip of the iceberg. Are We Still Married? is a heartfelt metaphor for how far we are willing to go to bridge the gaps in our relationships when our partners change in ways we didn’t sign up for.
By the time the credits roll, you’re left wanting more. This concept begs for a feature-film treatment or a series adaptation to explore the long-term logistics of a human-vampire marriage. It’s a hilarious, heartfelt, and biting look at modern love.
About Are We Still Married?
After a bat bites Jack (30s), transforming him into a vampire, he comes to the front door of his home, asking his wife Laura (30s) to let him back inside. Per vampire rules, Jack now needs an invitation to reenter his home, an invitation that Laura withholds.
This man looks and sounds like her husband, he makes her laugh and cry like her husband, and still she doesn’t know if she can trust him. As the two reconcile and reconnect over the course of the night (Jack always outside the house, Laura always inside), Laura wrestles with the impossible choice, and the stakes ratchet as the clock ticks and daybreak draws near.
Fifteen had its World Premiere at SXSW 2026.
