The film’s most striking layer is its casting. Shia LaBeouf plays his own father (James Lort), while Noah Jupe and Lucas Hedges play versions of Shia (Otis Lort).
Young Otis is constantly scanning his father’s moods. Honey Boy
James constantly reminds Otis that he "works for him," blurring the lines between fatherhood and employment. 🌪️ The Cycle of PTSD The film’s most striking layer is its casting
The title is a nickname, but its weight is heavy. It represents the "sweetness" extracted from a child to fuel a family’s survival. Otis is the primary earner at age 12. Honey Boy