Experiencing Interruptions?

Out of the Coffin

LOGLINE:
When a socially awkward vampire finally confesses to his friends and family that he’s been secretly sucking rats and family pets to survive, their reaction is less than supportive — and now that they know, they might just kill him. A bloody spoof of identity, denial, and the American dream… with fangs.

ONE-SHEET SYNOPSIS: OUT OF THE COFFIN
A series concept by Karl J. Niemiec

Dade isn’t your typical vampire. He’s not suave. He’s not seductive. He’s not even good at biting. For years, he’s survived in suburban America by secretly feeding on rats, chickens, and the occasional family pet — all while pretending to be a normal guy with a garlic allergy and a weird sleep schedule.

But now, under pressure from his therapist, Dade decides to come out. He gathers his friends and family for a heartfelt confession: He’s a vampire. A real one. And he’s been sucking blood compulsively for years.

Unfortunately, his loved ones have a stake in the matter — and they’re not taking it well.

As Dade’s confession spirals into chaos, the film skewers everything from cultural identity and cancel culture to dietary restrictions and family dysfunction. His friends want to deny it away. His ex wants to sanitize it. His neighbor wants to kill him. And his dog just wants to know who’s next.

Out of the Coffin is a fast-paced, absurdist horror-comedy that blends social commentary with slapstick gore, turning the vampire mythos on its head. Beneath the blood and laughs lies a surprisingly tender story about self-acceptance, chosen family, and the terrifying freedom of being known.

Think What We Do in the Shadows meets Get Out — with a dash of Napoleon Dynamite and a splash of Interview with the Vampire — all wrapped in a cape of suburban dysfunction.

Because in a country as diverse as America… being a vampire still sucks.

  • Karl J Niemiec
    Director
    Law of Average - In the Endless City - Series Concept
  • Karl J Niemiec
    Writer
    Wild Blossoms - Contest winning screenplay
  • Karl J Niemiec
    Producer
    Don't Tell Mom
  • Michael Hegedus
    Key Cast
    "Dade von Lockwitt"
  • Walter Caldwell
    Key Cast
    "Lou MacFee"
  • Blumen Young
    Key Cast
    "Stanley Krotch"
  • Noelle Messier
    Key Cast
    "Katherine von Lockwitt"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 9 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 25, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    1,750 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Santa Monica Film Fest
    Santa Monica
    United States
    December 5, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Gen Con
    Indianapolis
    United States
    July 21, 2010
    Official Selection
  • Haunted NewPort
    Rhode Island
    United States
    October 31, 2002
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Absurd Film Festival - Monthly awards
    Cinisello Balsamo
    Italy
    February 4, 2026
    Italy
    Honorable Mention
Distribution Information
  • LapTop Publishing
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Karl J Niemiec

Former IUPUI adjunct professor Karl J. Niemiec is the grandson of Detroit Polish mobsters portrayed in his book and screenplay, The Polish Gang – 1929. Raised in the small country town of Jonesville, Michigan, near the Ohio border, Karl grew up working on farms, playing sports, shooting guns, and riding horses. He now lives in Carmel, Indiana, with his wife and four children, where he writes love stories that blend heart, humor, and grit across multiple genres using The Inside Pitch-recommended How to Be a Prolific Screenwriter, originally developed at UCLA Extension, and taught at IUPUI.

AFTRA/SAG / WGA eligible

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Can attend your event.

Love stories because the world needs more.

I believe who I’m looking for is one person away.

And I’m ready to be put to work. From a full outline it takes me about 10 days to reach a workable first draft. Even wrote a book on how I do it and taught it at IUPUI after developing it at UCLA.

Amazon: https://a.co/d/gBofQTd

More about the Author.

Karl J. Niemiec writes heartfelt love stories across multiple genres and lives with his wife and four children in Carmel, Indiana.

A former Los Angeles resident, Karl relocated to Indiana in 2006 and began teaching at IUPUI as an Adjunct Professor. There, he taught courses based on his bestselling books Write to Be Published and The Inside Pitch-recommended How to Be a Prolific Screenwriter, originally developed at UCLA Extension.

Two documentary projects he and his family produced when they first arrived were:

“This Is Why - Why Do Six Garbage Trucks Go By My House In One Day?” Karl gifted the project to the city of Carmel and Mayor Brainard to help him implement his plan to get all of Carmel on one garbage and recycling service. After it passed, the Niemiecs were given a Carmel Green Environment Award by the Carmel City Council.

And "Special - Give Us A Game", an 8 year study of The Michigan Far Flyers, a Special Needs Hockey team created and coached by Karl’s brother Ben Niemiec and the team's quest to find other teams like them to play. The 60 minute documentary on Amazon inspired "The Indy Twisters" to form right here in Carmel, Indiana.

https://www.facebook.com/indytwisters/

Karl's Written, Acted, Directed Film Festival Projects Include:

Law of Average - In the Endless City - a proof of concept Neo-Noir Series Pilot - Won the LA Film and Script Neo-Noir Film Fest.

Out of the Coffin - Short premiered at Haunted Newport, Rhode Island, also screened at The Santa Monica Film Fest and The Indianapolis Gen Con.

To Answer Your Question - Short Screened at the Great Lakes International Film Festival.

Don't Tell Mom - Family Covid Short - Screened at the International Mobile Film Festival

His teaching journey continued as he directed nine parent acclaimed hit children's musicals, which opened the door to instructing students of all ages at the YMCA, Monon Center, and KjN Studio. The Studio’s signature on-camera technique, The Hero Face, stems from Karl’s private training in ABC’s film library—an experience that saw him move from the mailroom to on-screen roles on General Hospital and Welcome Back, Kotter.

Karl’s passion for performance and storytelling is showcased in his book Audition Monologues That Work, five scenes from which earned IMDb credits. Two of these scenes were selected for film festivals—three of which premiered locally at The Box Film Studio, home to the Indiana Film Network's monthly gatherings.

His expertise in screenwriting and directing led to national opportunities, including a recurring role directing Agent/Manager audition scenes at showcases back in Los Angeles. These biannual events also involved directing and editing actor reels while shooting a day-and-the-life production of the actors and their families from across the country.

Today, Karl continues to write and adapt his screenplays into stage plays, novels, audiobooks, and even game boards to broaden his projects' marketability using the same simple five reformatting techniques that spawned The Game of Halloween inside How to Be a Prolific Screenwriter.