SXSW 2026 Review - Are We Still Married?

Laura and Jack attempt to navigate their marriage after an unexpected vampiric transformation in the SXSW short Are We Still Married.

Marriage is often framed as a test of patience, commitment, and unconditional love. But what happens when that test involves one partner turning into a vampire? The SXSW short Are We Still Married, directed by  Kit Steinkellner, takes that question and turns it into a clever supernatural comedy about love, loyalty, and the strange logistics of keeping a relationship alive—literally and figuratively—after death.

The film centers on Laura and Jack, played by Taylor Misiak, and Dustin Milligan, a couple trying to reconnect after Jack has been bitten and transformed into a vampire. Rather than launching into bloodshed or gothic melodrama, the short unfolds in a far more grounded setting: Jack standing outside the house, separated from his wife by a door or window, as the two attempt to work through the state of their marriage.

It’s a simple setup, but that simplicity is exactly what makes the short work. Instead of focusing on spectacle, the story leans into the awkward, humorous reality of navigating a relationship under wildly abnormal circumstances. Their conversation feels familiar in a way that many couples will recognize—misunderstandings, affection, frustration—except now it’s filtered through the rules of vampire lore.

Steinkellner's script cleverly plays with those rules. Vampires have been deeply embedded in pop culture for decades, and the film acknowledges that lineage with playful references to works like Twilight and other well-known interpretations of the myth. But while the lore is respected, the focus here isn’t on the mythology itself. Instead, the film asks a more human question: what happens to the relationships left behind when someone becomes a monster?

That’s where the short finds its charm. Rather than portraying Jack as a predator who immediately threatens everyone around him, the film allows him to remain recognizably human. He still cares about his wife. She still cares about him. The supernatural transformation becomes less about horror and more about the emotional complications that follow.

The chemistry between the leads carries the film. Taylor and Dustin create an easy, believable rapport as Laura and Jack, capturing the rhythms of a couple who clearly know each other well. Their exchanges are sharp, funny, and occasionally touching, grounding the story even as it ventures into absurd territory.

For a horror-comedy short, Are We Still Married also feels refreshingly wholesome. The humor is approachable, the premise is inventive, and the execution never overcomplicates the idea. It’s the kind of short that could easily be shown to a broad audience, not just genre fans.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the film is the world it hints at beyond the immediate story. Jack’s transformation alone could easily be expanded into a larger narrative. How he became a vampire, how Laura discovered the truth, and how their lives changed afterward all feel like stories waiting to be explored. Yet the film wisely keeps its focus tight, delivering a concise and satisfying moment in this unusual relationship.

By the time the credits roll, Are We Still Married proves that vampire stories still have room for fresh ideas—especially when they focus less on blood and more on the complicated humanity that lingers beneath the fangs.

Rating: 3.5 / 5