The Sisters of Scott County (2026)

-Written by Edmund Robertson. 

Short films are often great mediums to showcase self-contained stories that are able to be enjoyed on their own, though they can also be used as a starting point to present concepts that have the potential to be explored further in other installments. One such film with this potential is Writer-Director Courtney Hoffman’s campy action romp The Sisters of Scott County, which effortlessly tells an entertaining story on its own while also setting up a larger world for its characters to have recurring adventures in. Set in Indiana during the 1970s, this particular short follows the titular Reedy sisters trying to operate an illegal moonshine operation while the oldest one, Cherry Mary (Kaitlyn Dever), tries to pass her truck driving exam to earn her license.

Right from the start of The Sisters of Scott County, its nostalgic setting and campy tone are quickly established as the 1970s American midwest is characterized by a bright and sunny color palette with an equal balance of vibrance and warmth. This visual style simultaneously calls toward the kitschy nostalgia of the era while leaning into the humor of the ridiculous situations that Cherry Mary and her sisters find themselves in. While much of the short focuses mainly on Cherry Mary, her other sisters have an effortless chemistry during their limited screentime as they rush to hide their moonshine business from both the law and a biker gang looking to rob the family. Despite the fast pace of the film, Hoffman still manages to make each of the sisters’ personalities identifiable and compelling from the sassy youngster Lou-Anne (Indiana Elle) to the authoritative big sister Yvonne (Ayvan Williams).

Throughout The Sisters of Scott County, we get brief hints about the larger history of the Reedy family that extend beyond the built-in chemistry that they have with each other, suggesting a world that is much larger and storied than the one presented onscreen. As her driving test goes off the rails into an action-packed chase against a biker gang, Cherry Mary lets her nervous driving instructor Hank Garcia (Emilio Rivera) know about her deceased father’s familiarity with him as a means of keeping her cool. This small moment in the grand scheme of the short serves not only the purpose of adding more characterization to Mary and her family, but also leaves the viewer to imagine what other adventures these dynamic characters might have been up to in Indiana. 

The timing of The Sisters of Scott County’s action remains solidly paced throughout, allowing the personalities of each of the characters to shine through at every moment. However, I do feel like some of the editing could benefit from being more dynamic in order to make the action feel more intense when it needs to be. Aside from that gripe and a few moments where the ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) felt like it needed tuning up, I still had fun watching this short all the way through to the point that if Hoffman has more planned for these characters, I would gladly tune in to see more of their misadventures if given the chance.

Written and Directed by Courtney Hoffman.

Starring Kaitlyn Dever, Lachlan Watson, Ayvan Williams, Indiana Elle, Ava Phillippe, Emilio Rivera.

7.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING