SoCal new movies, Aug. 14-21: ‘Alien: Romulus,’ ‘Skincare,’ ‘Sugarcane,’ ‘My Penguin Friend’ and more

Major new releases, indie flicks, foreign films and art-house fare

Cailee Spaeny in “Alien: Romulus” (20th Century Studios)

Welcome to the latest edition of TV or Not TV’s curated guide to new and current releases screening in LA and OC this week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for arts & entertainment at the Los Angeles Times.

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New this week

• Starts Friday, Aug. 16

‘Alien: Romulus’ Young space colonists encounter acid-dripping xenomorphs, terror ensues in this gory 2024 entry in the sci-fi horror action franchise. Fede Álvarez directs and Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson star. 119 mins. Rated R. 20thcenturystudios.com

‘Close to You’ “The Umbrella Academy’s” Elliot Page portrays a trans man attempting to reconnect with family and friends some years later in this poignant 2023 drama directed by Dominic Savage. 100 mins. Not Rated. fandango.com

‘Consumed’ A married couple encounter a madman and a monster in the woods, terror ensues in Mitchell Altieri’s 2024 horror thriller. With Devon Sawa. 89 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com

‘Crescent City’ A serial killer terrorizes a small Southern town in this 2024 thriller starring Alec Baldwin, Terrence Howard and Esai Morales. 103 mins. Rated R. lumierecinemala.com

‘The Greatest Surf Movie in the Universe’ It’s about to get gnarly in this in this stop motion-animated, post-apocalyptic 2024 action comedy featuring the voices of Luke Hemsworth and Kelly Slater. 81 mins. Not Rated. Various theaters

‘The Good Half’ Nick Jonas stars in this 2023 drama about a struggling writer who returns home to Cleveland for his mother’s funeral. Robert Schwartzman directs and Elisabeth Shue, David Arquette, Alexandra Shipp, Brittany Snow and Matt Walsh also star. 110 mins. Not Rated. thegoodhalfmovie.com

‘The King Tide’ Life in a peaceful island village is upended by the arrival of a child with mysterious powers in this dark 2023 fable. Christian Sparkes directs and Frances Fisher and Clayne Crawford co-star. 100 mins. Not Rated. lumierecinemala.com

‘Know Your Place’ An Eritrean American teenager living in Seattle embarks on a crosstown odyssey in writer-director Zia Mohajerjasbi’s 2022 coming-of-age drama. 117 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com