Currently the Dallas Independent Film Festival is in full swing and offers up a variety of new films for audiences to enjoy. Making his feature directorial debut Austin Nichols has brought his new film The Salamander King to join in the festivities of the festival in hopes of getting it to find the audience it deserves. I had the pleasure of checking this film out, but is it one that is worth saving like the golf course or will it miss its last putt?
 

The Salamander King follows a municipal golf pro and his slacker friends’ who band together to save their beloved golf course and way of life from extinction. The film features a great cast including Ryan Hansen, Adrianne Palicki, Dulce Sloan, Justin Chatwin, Reggie Bush, Temple Baker, Bill Wise, Brad Leland, Joe Hursley, Lilit Avagyan, Bobo Hoang, and Christopher St. Mary.
 

I knew nothing about this film other than the cast when I dived in and was pleasantly surprised. The film felt like something that would come out in the 80s and 90s in tone while still having its own voice to bring forward. Its story isn’t anything we haven’t seen before in some fashion but is crafted well enough to still make it one that entertains and keeps you invested in the heart and fun of it all.
 

I think I was expecting something more over the top in the comedy, but it is subdued despite still bringing some great laughs. Instead, it is grounds these characters as just who they are, love them or hate them and never makes any of them feel like a joke even when they are silly and over the top. The cast are all great with the character Dale being one of my favorites played by Bill Wise. He reminded me of a backwoods version of Bill Murray’s Spackler from Caddyshack which ironically this film is similar in story.

 

The film is filled with a lot of familiar territory but firmly finds its own place in the genre with the big bad rich guy coming to shut them down and the lovable misfits doing what they can to save it. While some might find this to be a lack of originality and I get that, but for me it is also a brave attempt to put your own voice into that familiar world and I think Nichols has done just that.
 

There is no official release date yet as I believe it’s still shopping for distribution through its festival run, but for those unable to catch the premiere screening there is another chance on Saturday April 26th at DIFF if you can get tickets to attend. It is worth checking out and I hope it finds the distribution it deserves and look forward to what else Nicholas has up his sleeve in the future.