Film Review: The Job (2025)
Recovering from trauma, Todd interviews for a job and finds redemption instead of employment.
A Sci-Fi Psychological Drama About Trauma, AI, and the Human Condition
The 2025 short film The Job is a tightly woven sci-fi psychological drama that explores artificial intelligence, human trauma, and the messy search for personal redemption.
The story follows Todd, played with raw vulnerability by LeJon, who arrives at an empty office building already burdened by past trauma. The deserted setting only heightens the tension. When Todd reconnects a loose wire, he unknowingly awakens Athena 2.0, an omniscient AI acting as a human-interface interviewer. Dawna Lee Heising delivers Athena with a controlled, commanding presence that becomes the film’s backbone.
A Job Interview Turned Emotional Interrogation
The standard interview turns into an intense psychological confrontation. Athena forces Todd to face his deepest wounds and past mistakes, pushing the “job offer” aside as the real mission becomes emotional reckoning.
The contrast between Athena’s calm precision and Todd’s unraveling creates a gripping dynamic that propels the film forward. Rather than relying on action or twist-heavy storytelling, The Job embraces atmosphere, introspection, and character-driven tension.
A Powerful Sixteen Minutes
The Job presents redemption not as a reward but as a painful, necessary process of facing the truth. For a short runtime of approximately 16 minutes, it leaves a surprisingly lasting impact.
“I’m not some algorithm to be optimized.”
Genre
Sci-Fi, Drama
Cast
- Dawna Lee Heising – Athena
- LeJon – Todd
Director
Craig Railsback
Writers
Heather Joseph-Witham, Craig Railsback
*Thank you to Joe Williamson for the screener link for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
SA Examiner 