Imagine your new job requires a single task. No history needed. Excellent pay. Oh, and a strict dress code: a white, long-sleeve button-up shirt with a black tie and black shoes. All you need to do is keep an eye on a strange hole; I apologize, the word is “anomaly”. Simply monitor this anomaly in a basement wall and record its diameter every hour. Earn an excellent hourly wage by doing so. Also, you must deal with an eccentric micromanaging boss. That is precisely what Asher (Steve Kasan) signs up for in Head Like a Hole. He is precisely what this job requires.
The Interview
Head Like a Hole is written by Stefan MacDonald-Labelle and Mitchell Brhelle and directed by MacDonald-Labelle with zero budget and one location. It opens with Asher, entirely down on his luck. He’s behind on his bills and can’t afford to pay for his phone. He stumbles upon a job posting for a researcher position at the perfect moment. The term “researcher’ is used here loosely. Desperately, Asher runs to his interview because his car ran out of gas, and this opportunity is his lifeline.
When Asher meets his enigmatic employer, Mr. Emerson (Jeff McDonald), it is clear that this man is wholly invested in the size of the hole. Writing this makes me want to laugh, but Mr. Emerson is serious about this hole. He demands that we not only refer to the hole as an anomaly but also perceive it as such. Any questions about this anomaly’s origin or what they expect from it are quickly dismissed. Ignoring all the red flags, Asher follows Mr. Emerson down the stairs into a sparsely lit basement.
Research
Mr. Emerson also runs a pretty tight ship. His watchful eye heavily monitors Asher as he conducts this research day after day. Everything is a mystery, from the residence’s owners to whom this research is for. Asher dresses the same way every day, with no alterations, using one chair and one clipboard to record the day’s measurements. Same size hole day after day. If you are tired of reading about this situation, I was also weary of watching it. Each minute seemed too long, and I am surprised that Head Like a Hole was only 93 minutes. However, the intentional slowness and uneventful days only grew more exciting.
Perhaps it’s the callback to the monotony of any job — the strict dress code, the boredom, the ridiculous rules you must follow, the boss you don’t necessarily like. You’re likely to become bored, or the lack of stimulation might lead you to lose interest. Head Like a Hole is shot in black and white, which suits it perfectly. It adds a layer of tedium. More of the same uniform, same observations for days on end, and the same 15-millimeter anomaly for Asher to stare at and into. The tension and frustrations drag on. Regardless, Asher persists.
Be the Hole
Luckily, there is a significant monetary incentive, and Asher isn’t spending his whole day alone. Mr. Emerson has an assistant, Sam (Eric B Hansen), with whom Asher is very friendly. He makes his coffee, and I was hopeful for some romance here. Finally, Asher’s personality begins to shine through. We don’t get any background from Asher, aside from his financial problems. However, the character he builds within this residence is most interesting. Asher investigates and listens closely when his boss thinks he’s being private. He works now to see change, to understand what’s happening, and his fear doesn’t stop him from continuing this job. He is far more intuitive about Mr. Emerson, and after weeks, he relents and looks for answers from within this anomaly.
Results May Vary
Obviously, Asher grows increasingly frustrated. Reminiscent of a stale corporate life, I’d assume it’s a sentiment familiar to many. I won’t spoil any potential action, but I felt my frustrations mirror Asher’s as subtle occurrences increased, which intrigued me. A moment of unrequited feelings aggravates him and leads to more questions about his role at work. All of this comes crashing to a halt when we discover the anomaly’s true purpose and Asher’s role.
Head Like a Hole is intentionally ambiguous, with a character I grew to like. While the ending may have been predictable, the premise was fresh and original. Asher became the one to observe and monitor. Its ninety-minute runtime did not overstay its welcome and was timed perfectly to a beautifully climaxed ending. From start to finish, you will find very little to be disappointed about. What a treat from Salem Horror Fest!
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