SXSW: ‘Are We Still Married? Shows Promise

Are We Still Married? shows promise for something more after a bat bite sparks a transformation that sends ripples through a couple’s relationship. Marking the directorial debut of Kit Steinkellner (Sorry For Your Loss), this proof-of-concept short opens the doors for exploration in either a film or TV format. The biggest factor that may make or break the concept is whether the couple at the center of this dilemma has enough chemistry to add depth to what will be a constantly evolving series of adjustments and questions in their journey.

Are We Still Married? follows a husband and wife over the course of an evening. The husband, Jack (Dustin Milligan), can’t seem to come inside. His wife, Laura (Taylor Misiak), is hesitant to let him. As the clock ticks toward sunrise, we learn several things.

A bat has bitten Jack and has subsequently turned him into a vampire, and so, it’s no surprise that Laura doesn’t want him back inside the house. Of course, the information is also accepted at face value, with minimal exploration beyond dialogue, due to time constraints.

Chemistry plays a big part in whether or not Are We Still Married? can work.

There’s enough slight humor in this short to see the potential for something more. Dustin Milligan and Taylor Misiak work well together as they trade in easy banter. However, when it comes to chemistry, their husband-and-wife dynamic reads more like a couple on a first date. It can be argued that, given the circumstances, the relationship is back to square one, which is why there’s a sense that each of them is feeling each other out in their onscreen dynamics. 

Yes, that’s still enough to snatch attention, but if that chemistry was more developed to create that lived-in feeling that that kind of relationship status requires, that might make future developments of Are We Still Married? a lot stronger. This might also help mitigate some of the show-not-tell struggle in this short, with much of what we learn told to us rather than shown. Budget and time, again, are still factors here, so if this idea gets further expanded, I’d like to see more of that built-in history come through in the performances and dynamics onscreen.

The plot is laid out, and Laura’s ultimate decision does enough to make you want more.

Given how dialogue-heavy the short is, it’s surprising the pacing doesn’t drag. The flow and momentum work well, with the gradual transition in Laura’s hesitance and, inevitably, acceptance of Jack’s condition hitting right where it needs to. The natural ticking clock of the sunrise also helps here, baking in a natural source of tension as Jack aims to avoid sun exposure. 

Are We Still Married? ends by opening the door for more plot exploration. What other difficulties will this couple run into as they navigate Jack’s newfound chapter in life? There are many real-life parallels one can draw for this level of exploration, particularly in the realm of illness, should Steinkellner want to go that route. This is all to say that by the end, when we arrive at Laura’s ultimate decision, enough groundwork has been laid to make a viewer want more.

The future of this couple remains uncertain, but it will generate interest.

As it stands now, the current iteration of Are We Still Married? shows promise. With a stronger push in the chemistry department, more specifically, shifting the chemistry from awkward first date energy to something more comfortable (maybe, a little too comfortable depending on what the state of the marriage was like before the transformation) will add a little more weight to the stark separation between the two characters. 

Additionally, it might pave the way for more interesting comedic beats to cut up the more dialogue-expositional components used to set up the premise. Aside from those general notes, I can easily see how this concept can be expanded into a film, a TV sitcom, or a drama series, depending on the changes made. It’s got that potential. Now, it just has to cook. 

Are We Still Married? world premiered as a part of the 2026 SXSW Film Festival.