Honey Boy (2019)

Honey Boy (2019) is a semi-autobiographical drama written by Shia LaBeouf, based on his own childhood and early fame as a child actor. Directed by Alma Har’el, the film is raw, intimate, and emotionally powerful, offering a piercing look at fame, trauma, addiction, and reconciliation.

Below is a comprehensive guide to the film, including its plot, characters, themes, behind-the-scenes insights, and everything else you’d want to know.

Detailed Summary

Introduction: A Young Actor’s Descent

The film begins with Otis Lort (played in adulthood by Lucas Hedges), a rising movie star who spirals into alcoholism and self-destructive behavior. After a violent outburst on set, he’s ordered into rehab. The therapy sessions become the framing device of the film, forcing Otis to reflect on his childhood trauma and the toxic relationship he had with his father.

1995: Otis and His Father, James

In flashbacks, we meet 12-year-old Otis (played with heart-wrenching vulnerability by Noah Jupe). He lives in a rundown motel with his father James (Shia LaBeouf), a former rodeo clown and recovering alcoholic who acts as his manager. James is emotionally abusive, erratic, and controlling, yet deeply needy and insecure. Despite the toxicity, there are moments of tenderness and twisted love between them.

James is both living off and lashing out at his son’s success. Their relationship is a constant push-pull, rooted in guilt, dependency, and a hunger for validation.

Otis’s Emotional World

Otis finds small moments of solace with a kind sex worker who lives nearby (known only as “Shy Girl,” played by FKA Twigs), and with his guardian Tom, a production assistant who often serves as his only emotional anchor. But these moments are fleeting, and Otis is often left alone to navigate the chaotic, adult world he’s been forced into far too soon.

Confronting the Past

In the present-day timeline, adult Otis struggles to accept that the pain he’s carrying comes from a source he still desperately wants to love. Therapy pushes him to confront the roots of his anger, shame, and self-destruction. He begins to write a version of his past – which is, essentially, the very film we’re watching.

Movie Ending

The film ends with adult Otis deciding to make peace with his memories. In a key scene, he envisions a final conversation with his father – a hallucinated, symbolic reconciliation. James appears in a dream-like sequence where Otis hugs him and says, “I’m gonna make a movie about you.” James responds, “Make me look good, honey boy.”

It’s both heartbreaking and redemptive. The film doesn’t show Otis forgiving his father in the traditional sense but choosing to tell his story with honesty, empathy, and pain. In a way, Honey Boy is Otis’s way of reclaiming control over his narrative and giving voice to the wounded child inside him.

The last moments show Otis walking through a chicken farm – a surreal nod to James’s past and the symbols of Otis’s trauma – then driving away, leaving the viewer with a sense of tentative healing rather than closure.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Honey Boy does not have a post-credits scene. The story concludes with the final emotional moments and the credits roll quietly, giving space for reflection.

Type of Movie

Honey Boy is a drama, but more precisely, it’s a therapeutic memoir in cinematic form. It blends elements of autobiography, psychological drama, and coming-of-age storytelling, with moments of surrealism that mirror inner trauma.

Cast

• Shia LaBeouf as James Lort (Otis’s father, a character based on his own real-life father)
• Lucas Hedges as Adult Otis
• Noah Jupe as Young Otis
• FKA twigs as Shy Girl
• Byron Bowers as Percy, a fellow patient in rehab
• Laura San Giacomo as Dr. Moreno, Otis’s therapist

Film Music and Composer

The score for Honey Boy was composed by Alex Somers, known for his dreamy, ambient music (also a collaborator with Sigur Rós). The soundtrack beautifully complements the film’s emotional depth, often fading in with a haunting softness that reflects Otis’s inner world.

Filming Locations

The film was primarily shot in Los Angeles, using real motels and backlots to ground the story in a sense of realism. The raw, sometimes claustrophobic locations reflect Otis’s isolation and lack of safety. Many scenes, particularly those in the motel, were filmed in tight, intimate spaces to mirror the psychological confinement Otis experiences.

Awards and Nominations

Honey Boy received critical acclaim, especially for its performances and screenplay. Notable accolades include:

• Sundance Film Festival – Special Jury Prize (Director Alma Har’el)
• Independent Spirit Awards – Nominated for Best Supporting Male (Shia LaBeouf), Best Director, and Best Screenplay
• Hollywood Film Awards – Breakthrough Screenwriter Award (Shia LaBeouf)
• Gotham Awards – Breakthrough Actor (Noah Jupe, nominated)

Behind the Scenes Insights

• The script was written by Shia LaBeouf while he was in rehab, as part of his therapy.
• Shia LaBeouf plays his own father, an act of personal confrontation and catharsis.
• The film was shot in under three weeks, emphasizing a raw, indie filmmaking style.
• Alma Har’el, the director, had never directed a narrative feature before, previously known for her documentary work.
• Shia has said that making the movie saved his life and helped him rebuild his relationship with his father.

Inspirations and References

• The film is inspired by Shia LaBeouf’s real-life experiences as a child actor on Even Stevens and other early projects.
• The title Honey Boy comes from the nickname his father gave him.
• LaBeouf’s therapy journals became the basis for the screenplay.
• Stylistically, the film has echoes of Terrence Malick, Sean Baker, and Andrea Arnold—filmmakers known for capturing intimate, grounded emotion.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no publicly known alternate endings. However, some scenes involving Otis’s relationship with Shy Girl were shortened. Originally, there were more interactions meant to highlight Otis’s longing for affection and connection, but these were trimmed to maintain focus on the father-son dynamic.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Honey Boy is not based on a book, but it is effectively a screenplay-as-memoir. In a way, it functions like a filmed autobiography. That said, no novelization or literary adaptation exists, and all material was developed from Shia LaBeouf’s own writings during his rehab.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Otis being strapped into a harness on a kids’ show set, then cut to his arrest as an adult – the harsh contrast hits hard.
• James ranting at Otis after an argument about money – revealing the layers of guilt and blame.
• Otis comforting Shy Girl silently – a moment of emotional vulnerability and connection.
• The final “movie about you” dream sequence – the emotional climax of the film.

Iconic Quotes

• James: “You wouldn’t be here if I didn’t f***ing make you.”
• Otis: “The only thing my father gave me that was of any value was pain. And you want to take that away?”
• James (in the dream): “Make me look good, honey boy.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The chicken farm is a real callback to LaBeouf’s father, who once worked at one.
• Otis’s costumes in flashbacks are styled similarly to Shia’s Even Stevens wardrobe.
• The rehab scenes use real therapeutic language and settings Shia encountered in real life.

Trivia

• Shia LaBeouf initially wanted Mel Gibson to play his father before deciding to do it himself.
• Noah Jupe never met LaBeouf’s real father during production to avoid mimicking – they focused on emotion, not impersonation.
• The motel used in the movie is a real LA-area motel that has appeared in multiple indie films.
• The project began as a screenplay writing exercise in court-mandated therapy.

Why Watch?

Honey Boy is an emotionally rich and daring film that offers a brutally honest look at trauma, masculinity, and the scars of childhood. It’s especially poignant for viewers interested in mental health, healing through art, and the darker side of fame. Shia LaBeouf lays himself bare, and Alma Har’el captures it with beauty and restraint.

Director’s Other Movies

• Bombay Beach (2011)
• LoveTrue (2016)
• Shadow Kingdom (2021, concert film with Bob Dylan)

(Honey Boy remains her most recognized narrative feature to date.)

Recommended Films for Fans

• The Florida Project (2017)
• Beautiful Boy (2018)
• Manchester by the Sea (2016)
• Waves (2019)
• Boyhood (2014)
• Short Term 12 (2013)
• American Honey (2016) – coincidentally starring Shia LaBeouf