Turtles All the Way Down - A Movie Review

You’re more than your mental illness.

Based on the book written by John Green, Turtles All the Way Down is a 2024 film. Aza Holmes is a teenager living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). She desires to live a normal life that doesn’t disrupt her from pursuing her crush and dreams beyond high school.

Turtles All the Way Down defines what all mental health movies should be. This is a very heartwarming film that gives viewers hope. The film not only highlights Aza’s OCD condition, but it also instills how to manage mental illness and live your best life.

Isabela Merced embodied complicated emotions and conquered a remarkable performance as Aza. Aza finds it difficult to live a normal life having trouble controlling rapid thoughts about her fears. She teaches viewers that we are more than our illnesses. She learns to focus on others, instead of her mental well-being.

Daisy (Cree) gets The Best Supportive Friend Award! I don’t have enough words to describe Daisy. She is patient, supportive, and generous. I also like Daisy’s personality, helping Aza spend less time in her mind. Friends make us feel like ourselves. Cree was excellent in her portrayal of the rebel Daisy who has a lot of heart for her age.

Aza and Daisy’s friendship is the glue of the story. Their friendship is a crucial example of being tolerant of others' illnesses and not letting them ruin things. However, an argument arises about Aza’s needs and how she’s ignored Daisy’s interests. All relationships require honesty.

More credits include Judy Reyes, Felix Mallard, Maliqu Johnson, Miles Ekhardt, J. Smith Cameron, and Poorna Jagannathan. Each actor does a wonderful job as their characters, especially the therapist (Jagannathan). Therapists always deserve recognition for being positive influences in the mental health field.

Turtles All the Way Down is not just about Aza’s OCD but also about a character’s disappearance and Aza figuring out a relationship. The film has several teenage themes that revolve around dating. These themes are relatable to all teens trying to understand themselves during this time.

Certain story elements needed further expansion, like Aza’s relationship with her mother. Aza’s mother is unsure how Aza will fair on her own, but we needed more scenes depicting their relationship. The money aspect regarding Davis also felt too good to be true.

Director Hannah Marks brings a sensitive and insightful approach to the adaptation. Marks adapted a genuine portrayal of OCD while encouraging viewers to speak out about any mental illness. Her direction assures a respectful portrayal of Aza’s journey that avoids overdramatization which most stories tend to encounter.

The editing team did a remarkable job of conveying Aza’s mind. The narrative is carefully crafted, enhancing its emotional impact through visual storytelling. Quick flashes of germs were intercepted in scenes while Aza was trying to enjoy time with friends. It was hard watching Aza’s battles in the latter half when she’s choking down hand sanitizer.

Author John Green has encountered his own battles with anxiety and OCD and made this story for anyone undergoing similar battles. Mental health films are so important. At its core, Turtles All the Way Down is a story about resilience and the ongoing battle with mental illness.

Always take care of yourself. Having an illness does not make you weak. With the right help and support, we can overcome battles. Let choices overcome your doubts about trying new things.

Now I need to read the book the film is based on. This film has a beautiful ending that made me tear up. Find Turtles All the Way Down on HBO.