Josh and S.A.M.

Older brother Josh is cunning and resentful, using lies to control and manipulate Sam. He engineers the belief that Sam is a genetically designed warrior called S.A.M., treating loyalty as a game to win approval from his mother and new stepfamily. His actions set off a chain of dangerous events that threaten both brothers. He craves belonging but misreads how to earn it, often at the expense of those around him.

Sam is the younger, impressionable brother who buys into Josh’s lies and evolves into believing he is S.A.M. He shows childlike trust and a willingness to follow his brother, even into risky situations. As events spiral, Sam’s innocence is tested and he learns the hard way about trust and consequences. He seeks safety and connection, often mirroring the loyalty that Josh claims to offer.

Thom is the patient yet strained father who moves to Florida with his new family, trying to navigate custody and a changed household. He attempts to keep the peace and keep the boys safe while balancing his own relationships. His decisions—like moving the kids to Orlando—show his desire for stability, even as the situation grows more complicated. He remains a central anchor for the boys as they drift apart and then reunite.

Allison is a runaway from Hannibal, Missouri who joins the boys on their road trip. She embodies a free-spirited outsider who becomes entangled in the boys’ misadventures, and she is mistaken for the fictional 'Liberty Maid' due to Josh’s fabrications. Her presence adds another layer of unpredictability and opportunity for camaraderie along the journey. She offers a different perspective on home and freedom.

Derek is a drunken man who asserts that he once had a relationship with the mother; Josh’s lies lead to a confrontation at a stranger’s house. When the truth comes out, Derek is knocked unconscious in self-defense, and the boys flee with his rental car. He represents the unpredictable danger that accompanies Josh’s deception and Sam’s naiveté. His presence heightens the film’s sense of risk on a cross-country escape.