{ local $/; $content = <HANDLE> } 

=====

open FILE, "inputfile" or die "Couldn't open file"; 
$content.=<FILE> 
close FILE; 

=====

open FILE, 'inputfile' or die "Could not open file inputfile: $!"; 
sysread(FILE, my $content, -s FILE); 
close FILE or die "Could not close file: $!";