The rapid evolution of media technologies in the digital age has precipitated the decline of individual homes and the fading of traditional“localized ancestral halls.” In this new landscape, mediated forms of existence and social consciousness infiltrate the emotional space between life and death. Historically, “localized ancestral halls” served as sites for exploring communication between the living and the dead, anchored in specific time, space, and spiritual connections. In contrast, the “image-based ancestral halls” of the digital age—shaped by big data and AI algorithms—extend the “afterlife” of the deceased, transcending the limits of physical ancestral halls and creating new “mediums” for dialogue between life and death in the digital realm. Yet, these virtual spaces may fall short of truly facilitating a meaningful connection, both temporally and emotionally, between the living and the dead. Instead, they present a “cinematic illusion,” wherein the living become captivated by the mediated presence of the deceased. Whether rejecting or embracing this illusion, the living are forced to confront the complexities and dilemmas presented by the digital age.