Holo (dir. Alexander DeSouza)

By: Dave Hughes

The anthology series Black Mirror (2011) built a cultural phenomenon around the dangers and abuses of modern innovation. It forces a vital question: at what point do our digital tools become too perilous for the public? The Tribeca short Holo feels like it could comfortably sit within that same universe in terms of how it interrogates our relationship with advanced systems. Director Alexander DeSouza masterfully tackles both the predatory dangers and the genuine therapeutic uses of this programming, developing a powerful statement on how humanity utilizes the tools it creates.

Holo tells the story of Claire, played by Morgan Kohan (Sullivan’s Crossing), an abused woman whose husband, Jared, played by Shane West (A Walk to Remember), recently passed away. Because Jared was abusive, Claire never received the closure she desperately needed while he was alive. To heal, she seeks the assistance of the Looking Glass company, a firm providing a specialized service where clients can confront lifelike holograms of deceased family members. However, the simulation takes a dark turn. Operating Jared’s hologram is Grey, played by Zelda Williams, an employee with a dangerous reputation for pushing the boundaries of these roleplays.

Director DeSouza uses this high-concept premise to paint a raw portrait of grief, trauma, and lingering attachment. Claire is visibly shattered by the dual weight of Jared’s death and his history of domestic abuse. Grey, for her part, tries to inhabit Jared’s persona while quietly wrestling with her own personal history of trauma. The resulting dynamic between the three characters is both captivating and profoundly tragic. Ultimately, Claire’s way of coping is an attempt to force an apology from a digital ghost who was entirely unwilling to give her one in real life. It is a haunting concept, yet one that feels deeply rooted in human nature.

Target Score 9/10: Through the inventive use of futuristic technology, director DeSouza delivers a profound statement on the complexities of grief and loss. Ultimately, Holo serves as a haunting reminder that even the most advanced innovations cannot truly heal the deepest, darkest wounds of human suffering. 

Holo was reviewed as part of Movie Archer's coverage of the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival.