You may use 'ese/esa', 'aquel/aquella' either as demonstrative adjectives or pronouns (that is, you may or may not add a noun after them). 'Ese libro' vs. 'Ése', 'Aquella casa' vs. 'Aquella'.
You can only use 'eso/aquello' as pronouns, so we never add a noun after them. For instance, it would be incorrect to say 'Eso libro'.
By the way, I could certainly point to a distant object and say 'Eso'.