Plot

Hold Me follows John as he encounters a mysterious figure seeking connection. As John reconnects with his past and faces betrayal, he ultimately embraces the ghostly figure, finding fleeting warmth in human touch.

Not for profit short student film, Inspired by Hellblazer #27 by Neil Gaiman and Dave Mckean John, a disillusioned man navigating the cold, bleak streets of London, reflects on the emptiness in his life through a series of melancholic narrations. He frequently crosses paths with the city's homeless population, including a "Shadowed Man," a ghostly figure who lurks in the background. This man, with his pale and damp appearance, embodies loneliness and desperation, seeking warmth and human connection that he was denied in life. At a party commemorating the death of his friend Gary, John reconnects with Ramona, a childhood friend. Their banter and memories reignite a brief sense of warmth in John, but a darker truth soon emerges. Ramona reveals her plan to have John father her child without his consent, a betrayal that devastates him, further deepening his isolation. Throughout the story, John continues to encounter the "Shadowed Man," who stalks various people, reflecting his own yearning for connection. In a climactic scene, John finally embraces the Shadowed Man, a symbol of the lost and forgotten souls who were denied love in life. This act allows the Shadowed Man to find peace, disappearing as John holds him. Shaken by the experience, John seeks solace in Ramona, who senses his distress. In a vulnerable moment, John collapses into her arms, pleading to be held. The film ends with a haunting reminder of the fleeting nature of human connection, as John clings to the small warmth it provides in a cold, unforgiving world.—Lachlan Tegoni