There is something immediately appealing about Mort, the 13-minute comedy short from Larry and Terry Ziegelman. Built around a meticulous actuary whose overnight office routine is interrupted by a visitor claiming to be Death, the film leans into an absurdly clean premise.
It lets the character do the heavy lifting. According to the press materials, the short is a proof of concept pulled from a larger pilot, and that tracks. It feels like a world with room to grow, not just a one-joke setup.
What makes Mort pop is its tonal balance. The setup is funny on its face, but the idea of a man who has spent his life minimizing risk suddenly being forced to confront the ultimate unknown gives the piece a deeper comic engine. The promise of the series, described as living somewhere between The Good Place and 24, makes sense. There is philosophical comedy here, but also pressure, timing and the kind of escalating discomfort that can turn a simple conversation into something deliciously unhinged.
The performances are key to the proof appeal. Greg Pragel plays Mort, while Steve Rozic takes on the role of Death, with Ronald Conner appearing as a security guard. From the materials alone, Rozic seems especially well-suited to the kind of offbeat presence that could make Death both funny and unsettling at once.
And if the reaction you shared is any indication, that’s exactly what the film is delivering. One viewer called the antagonist role “seemingly written for Wallace Shawn, with a delightful performance to match,” while another simply wrote, “Fantastic. I want more Mort!” That may be the strongest endorsement a proof of concept can get. Watch the trailer below:
The Ziegelmens bring a mix of experience in advertising, animation, and independent filmmaking to the project. Larry Ziegelman previously worked in advertising, where he created campaigns and Super Bowl spots at the late DDB Chicago before moving into directing.
Terry Ziegelman built his career in animation, with credits including Ice Age, Cloudy With a Chance for Meatballs, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and The Wild Robot. Together, they have continued the creative partnership they began as kids, now focused on original, award-winning narrative work.
As described by the filmmakers, Mort aims to blend “high stakes and heartfelt humor” with a vision for the full series that lives at the intersection of The Good Place and 24. Early reactions suggest the concept is landing.
What lingers most about Mort is the sense of potential. The title character’s obsession with safety, paired with a literal confrontation with mortality, gives the filmmakers a clean runway for bigger ideas about fear, routine, and what it means to actually live. If the short succeeds the way its early response suggests, then it has done exactly what a proof of concept is supposed to do. It leaves you wanting more. Nicely played, Mort. We think you have a great life ahead of you.
Mort is currently on the film festival circuit.
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