The Hit List – March 2021
The Screaming Target reviews the latest round of February and March releases, navigating a path through the ever present landfill indie as it’s called in the trade.
Reviews
The Hit List – November 2020
The Screaming Target says “Welcome back to the new releases, we may still be in lockdown folks, but the music still keeps coming and it’s alright”.
Wallasey History Tour
Colin Serjent reviews the book Wallasey History Tour, written by Ian Collard who shows how its famous landmarks used to look and how they have changed over the years.
The Monster Enters – Covid-19, Avian Flu and the Plagues of Capitalism
Ritchie Hunter reviews the book The Monster Enters – Covid-19, Avian Flu and the Plagues of Capitalism, written by Mike Davis.
There’s No Place Like Home
Sandra Gibson reviews a compilation of quarantine creativity by 50 people: a concept from photographer Chaz Rudd who compiled and designed it, with proceeds going to MIND charity.
Speke History Tour
Colin Serjent reviews the book Speke History Tour in which writer David Paul guides us around its well-known streets and buildings as well as exploring its hidden corners.
Secret Wirral
Colin Serjent reviews the book written by Les Jones, Secret Wirral, which tells many lesser-known stories of this exceptional peninsula.
The Hit List – October 2020
The Screaming Target has returned and is here to review the new batch of releases to be found in this post-lockdown Blighty we now unwittingly find ourselves embedded in.
Woolton History Tour
Colin Serjent reviews the book by David Paul, Woolton History Tour, which shows at how its famous landmarks used to look and how they have changed over the years.
Ferocious Love
Colin Serjent reviews the new audio-visual installation by Mikhail Karikis, Ferocious Love, on at the Tate Liverpool until 22nd November.
Round up of Recommended Environmental Reads
News from Nowhere give us their round-up of recommended environmental reads for 2020.
Lippy by Dead Centre
Ashley McGovern reviews the play Lippy, performed by Dead Centre and based on a real-life tragedy that took place in 2000 in Leixlip, Co Kildare.
National Theatre at Home: The Madness of George III
Ashley McGovern reviews The Madness of George III, Alan Bennett’s multi-award-winning drama produced by Nottingham Playhouse.
Planet of the Humans (NR)
Ashley McGovern reviews the documentary film Planet of the Humans which criticises the green movement and the renewable energy industry.
Spirits of Place
Tommy Calderbank reviews the book Spirits of Place, an anthology of essays on ‘spirits of place’ featuring twelve authors including Alan Moore and Warren Ellis and edited by John Reppion.
Dark Waters (12)
Amina Hersi reviews the film directed by Todd Haynes, Dark Waters, about the case against the chemical manufacturing corporation DuPont after they contaminated a town in America.
The Garnetts
Richard Lewis reviews the gig by West Coast inspired Liverpool quartet The Garnetts who played at the Cavern on 20th February 2020.
Parasite (15)
Nick Daly reviews the South Korean film Parasite, the first foreign-language film to win a Best Picture Oscar, showing at Picturehouse.
The Lighthouse (15)
Colin Serjent reviews the film The Lighthouse, directed by Robert Eggers and screening at Picturehouse.
Simeon Solomon
Cassius James reviews two of the paintings by Simeon Solomon, on display at the Walker Art Gallery till 1st March.
The Woman In Black
Mina Hersi reviews the adaption of Susan Hill’s 1983 horror novel, The Woman In Black, directed by Robin Herford and performed at the Liverpool Playhouse.
1917 (15)
Colin Serjent reviews the First World War film directed by Sam Mendes, 1917, showing at Picturehouse.
La Belle Epoque (The Good Times) (15)
Colin Serjent reviews the film La Belle Epoque, directed and written by Nicolas Bedos and showing at Picturehouse from 22nd November.
Earthquake Bird (15)
Reviewed by Ashley McGovern reviews the film Earthquake Bird, directed by Wash Westmoreland and based on the novel by Susanna Jones.
Jacqui Hallum: The View From The Top Of A Pyramid
Ashley McGovern reviews The View From The Top Of A Pyramid, the exhibition by Jacqui Hallum at the Walker Art Gallery on until 1st March 2020.
Sefton: The Postcard Collection
Colin Serjent reviews the book by Hugh Hollinghurst, Sefton: The Postcard Collection which looks at the history of Sefton through a collection of 170 postcards.
Úna Quinn – Inside Out
Rob Harrison reviews Inside Out, the debut album by Úna Quinn.
Dead Pigeon Gallery
Neil Morrin reviews the Dead Pigeon Gallery, an exhibition of mixed media installations in a mid-terrace house in Anfield, open during November and December.
The Hit List – October 2019 – Part 2
The Screaming Target reviews the new music releases to be found in and around the Nerve office, this time it’s the Political One with Vile Assembly, Beans On Toast and Cerrone.
The Hit List – October 2019
The Screaming Target reviews the new music releases to be found in and around the Nerve office these past two months including Cigarettes After Sex, Emel Mathlouthi and Gazel.
Joker (18)
Ashley McGovern reviews Joker, the new movie about the Batverse’s most notorious maniacal villain, directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix in the title role.
Knee Deep in Promises
Sandra Gibson reviews the play Knee Deep in Promises, written by Deborah Morgan and directed by Paul Goetzee, on at the Royal Court Studio till 19th October.
NT Live: Fleabag (15)
Amina Hersi reviews NT Live: Fleabag, the one-woman show written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, broadcast live to the Picturehouse cinema from London’s West End.
The Wirral in 50 Buildings
Tom Bottle reviews the new book from Amberley Publishing, The Wirral in 50 Buildings, written by Les Jones who explores the history of this fascinating area looking at its most interesting buildings.
Bait (15)
Colin Serjent reviews the film Bait, directed by Mark Jenkin and shot on a 16mm camera using black and white Kodak film.
Best Before Death (12A)
Ashley McGovern reviews Best Before Death, the documentary film directed by Paul Duane which follows the artist and musician Bill Drummond on The 25 Paintings World Tour.
Ad Astra (12A)
Colin Serjent reviews the new science fiction film directed by James Gray, Ad Astra, showing at Picturehouse from 20th September.
For Sama (18)
Colin Serjent reviews the documentary film For Sama, which tells the story of 26-year old female Syrian filmmaker Waad al-Kateab who filmed her life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo.
A Faithful Man (15)
Ashley McGovern reviews the French film A Faithful Man, directed by Louis Garrel and shown at Picturehouse.
Mrs Lowry & Son
Ashley McGovern reviews the film directed by Adrian Noble, Mrs Lowry & Son, about the artist L. S. Lowry and the relationship with his mother.
The Menlove Avenue Murder Mystery
Jennifer Walker reviews the comedy play by Gerry Linford, The Menlove Avenue Murder Mystery, on at the Royal Court until 21st September.
Pain and Glory (15)
Colin Serjent reviews the new Pedro Almodovar film Pain and Glory, showing at Picturehouse and starring Antonio Banderas as a film director looking back at his life.
Once Upon a Time….in Hollywood (18)
Nick Daly reviews the new film directed by Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time….in Hollywood, showing at Picturehouse from August 14th.
Marianne & Leonard: Words Of Love (12A)
Colin Serjent reviews Marianne & Leonard: Words Of Love, the documentary film directed by Nick Broomfield about the love story between Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen.
Varda by Agnès (15)
Colin Serjent reviews the documentary film Varda by Agnès in which the pioneer of the French New Wave, Agnes Varda, looks back at her own career.
Midsommar (18)
Ashley McGovern reviews the folk horror film Midsommar, written and directed by Ari Aster and showing at Picturehouse from 12th July.
REAL WORK
Samera Thalen reviews Real Work, the new exhibition at FACT that presents people’s stories about work that goes unrecognised, on until 6th October.
Apollo 11 (U)
Colin Serjent reviews the documentary film Apollo 11, which marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon launch, showing at Picturehouse from 21st June.
All My Sons
Ashley McGovern reviews the play All My Sons by Arthur Miller, shown at Picturehouse as part of National Theatre Live.
Africa Oye 2019
Colin Serjent and his camera visited Africa Oye, the UK’s biggest live festival of African music and culture, which took place in Sefton Park over the weekend of 22nd and 23rd June.
Yesterday (12A)
Ashley McGovern reviews the new Danny Boyle film Yesterday, showing at Picturehouse from 28th June.
The Hit List – June 2019
Rob Harrison is back with reviews of the new offerings of albums for May and June including A Certain Ratio and Charly Bliss.
Ericka Beckman & Marianna Simnett exhibition
Samera Thalen reviews the exhibition of video and installation by Ericka Beckman and Marianna Simnett, on at FACT until 16th June.
Ritual Bombardment In The Charnel House of Power
Tracey Dunn reviews the exhibition of drawings by Nina Edge, on at the Unity Theatre until 27th July.
Booksmart (15)
Ashley McGovern reviews the comedy high school movie Booksmart, directed by Olivia Wilde and showing at Picturehouse from 31st May.