I've seen some how to videos that show the use of a perforated bleeder film in the vac bag stack but I'm having trouble tracking it down. Why is it used? Is breather fabric the same thing? Is there a film that I can use and punch my own holes.

this is one of the videos  https://youtu.be/T4ZFj4fItWE 

EC sell this product, plus 'Bread Wrap' film which has some similar applications

https://www.easycomposites.co.uk/200g-red-22-twill-3k-carbon-fibre-cloth

It's used as a release film where bleeding of the resin through the film is also required. It is commonly used between the fabric and the breather layer in vacuum bagging and allows the breather layer to be released easily from the part once cured. The breather layer aids the evacuation of air from the part and acts to soak up excess resin when vacuum is applied

It can also be used during infusion, typically when using a woven infusion mesh that doesn't tear quite so easily and helps to remove it from the cured part