SPILL FILM REVIEW: 40 WATTS FROM NOWHERE

40 WATTS FROM NOWHERE

SUSAN CARPENTER/SLAMDANCE FESTIVAL

FEBRUARY 23, 2025

What do you do with a bunch of burning ambition, a love for music, and a boredom with early 90’s commercial radio?

For most people, the obvious answer wouldn’t be ‘start a radio station in your bedroom’, but 40 Watts From Nowhere serves as one woman (actually Sue Carpenter, alias ‘Paige Jarrett’)’s memoir of doing just that, taking us on a wild up-and-down ride through the thrills, chills, and seemingly-frequent (beer) spills of running a pirate radio station.

The movie achieves an excellent balance between geekery and fun. For example, the expansion on the origins of the L.A. and wider Californian pirate radio, including an illuminating interview with pirate radio godfather Stephen Dunifer, could’ve been clunky and dull in the wrong hands, but somehow it tells the story quickly, concisely and informatively, and serves as important world-building as to the context around the formation of the station.

In contrast, the inclusion of humorous and at times horrifying (such as why Carpenter’s first pirate radio station, the humorously-named KPBJ, reached its untimely end) anecdotes adds a levity to a serious story.

When that’s paired with Carpenter’s flair for fast-paced direction, in particular some excellent graphical choices to break up chunks of the movie, and a tremendous, era-spanning soundtrack, it builds something that you can’t fail to smile at watching. The great lineup of interviewees helps too, although, despite some cameos by punk royalty like Tom Morello, it has to be said that the magic of the movie comes from the stories of all the ordinary people involved. The sheer fun and love they seemed to have for being a part of it radiates through the screen.

By having those people be a part of it (as well as some excellent archival footage which is peppered throughout), the film is able to not only provide prescient and interesting analysis of the political landscape and social landscape of Los Angeles of the time but also draw out entertaining and emotive anecdotes from a varied cast of wild characters.

In essence, the movie’s a love letter to the true spirit of punk – if you want things to change, if you want to influence things, if you have a dream, do it yourself.  It’s feelgood, but you know it can’t last forever – so when the pathos comes, it does come quite hard, although the positive attitude of all involved and, ultimately, the defiance, means you’re still smiling.

By the end, you can’t fail to be somewhat moved by this plucky band of upstarts, consisting of every misfit, hipster, and ne’er-do-well in Los Angeles, and their story. Hell, some might even find it inspiring. Now, does anyone know where I can get a radio transmitter?

Susan Carpenter Link