This tension is most apparent in the portrayal of Aza’s relationship with Davis (played by Felix Mallard). In the book, their romance is haunted by Aza’s inability to see herself as a stable, continuous self—a problem she articulates through the metaphor of the “turtles all the way down” infinite regress. She cannot promise Davis a future because she cannot guarantee she will be the same person tomorrow. The film captures this beautifully in their intimate scenes, particularly a whispered conversation about the impossibility of knowing another person’s consciousness. Yet the medium of film, which inherently privileges romantic chemistry and the visual satisfaction of two attractive leads, softens the novel’s harsher edges. Davis’s frustration with Aza’s illness feels more like typical teenage relationship drama than the profound existential loneliness Green depicts. The camera’s desire to frame them as a couple in a beautiful sunset subverts the book’s argument that love cannot cure a diseased thought pattern.
These actors and actresses were AMAZING. They were charming, poignant, real, and so many other things. Isabela Merced was perfect ... Heidi Dischler Show all Feature Details Director Hannah Marks Lead Cast Isabela Merced (Aza), Cree Cicchino (Daisy), Felix Mallard (Davis) Key Themes Intrusive thoughts, contamination OCD, grief, and teen friendship Where to Watch Max (HBO Max) Critical Reception While many celebrate its "heartbreaking display of OCD", some critics at Decider found the subplot involving a missing billionaire and certain YA tropes to be "literary concoctions" that sometimes felt less grounded than the central mental health narrative. However, even skeptics generally agree that Isabela Merced "finds the heart of the character" and keeps the film engaging. Reddit +2 Are you looking for a turtles all the way down movie