The Salamander King: The Feel-Good Golf Movie Everyone’s Calling a “Warm Hug”

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In a recent interview, Russ Milheim from TopMob had the pleasure of chatting with Austin Nichols, the director of “The Salamander King,” and Adrianne Palicki, one of its stars. They discussed their heartwarming new film that offers viewers an entertaining and relevant tale centered around themes of community and golf.

In a new release at the Dallas International Film Festival, the story unfolds around a local golf professional, Ryan Hansen, and his motley crew of companions. Due to government intervention, they must unite in an effort to prevent the closure of their cherished golf course.

How The Salamander King Tells a Timely Story About Golf and Community

“It’s Really About Protecting Your Home and Your Identity…”

  • TopMob: “I just wanted to start with a broad question. In your own words, can you help paint a picture about how this story kind of tells a timely and important tale for audiences?”

Austin Nichols: Indeed. In essence, this film revolves around safeguarding one’s home and personal identity amidst rapid role transformations, and it seems even more relevant today than when Drew was scripting it. I believe sometimes we are fortunate that a movie can resonate with the zeitgeist of society at hand.

At times, it doesn’t always go our way, but I believe we truly struck gold. Essentially, each day as I commuted to work, I focused on the fact that this is a family who are doing everything they can to safeguard their treasures.

Adrianne Palicki: And community. It’s about community banding together to protect…

Austin Nichols: We could also express it as, “It’s a tale that resembles an underdog sports story. I like to refer to it as the ‘Save the Community Center’ film, and so on. However, fundamentally, my aim is always to keep the audience engaged—I use the analogy of a strong thread linking the audience and these characters. I never want this connection to weaken or snap. Instead, I strive for you to feel fully immersed and deeply connected with these people.

  • TopMob: “Another important part of this movie is golf. Can you both talk [about] how golf itself is at the heart of this film, and why golf and not any other type of sport?”

In Austin, where I hail from, there’s a publicly-owned golf course that’s been leased by the city from the University of Texas for a term of 99 years. It seems that either this lease has expired or is close to doing so, but recently, a significant effort has been launched to preserve the course due to its cherished status within our community.

We didn’t narrate that tale, but it undeniably influenced us, as I spent my childhood in that location, right within my community. Moreover, golf holds a certain humor for me – it’s filled with amusing caps and quirky clubs. It’s oddly comical, and it’s striking how this unexpectedly became the subject of my debut project.

Not only do I enjoy golf, I also regularly play it. Yet, I hadn’t anticipated this particular incident. It seems as though the cosmos subtly guides us towards our path, and if we pay heed to its gentle nudges, we often find ourselves moving in the right direction…

It’s shrewd of you to have brought the golf club. After all, when one considers caddy shots, one inevitably thinks of Happy Gilmore – a testament to the enduring charm that golf possesses. And now, with ‘Full Swing’ streaming on Netflix, it’s clear that there’s an exciting wave of golf-related content on its way.

It seems Owen Wilson already hosts a golf program, while Will Ferrell is set to debut his own golf show. Additionally, rumors suggest a sequel to ‘Happy Gilmore’ is on its way. All these developments happening simultaneously suggests an unexpected trend in golf-themed comedies, hinting at some mysterious appeal that draws viewers to this genre.

Adrianne Palicki: In the film, I dabbled a bit with it, and it was quite amusing to watch as they tried to portray me as…

Austin Nichols commended her: “You performed exceptionally well. Not only once but twice she successfully made an essential putt, a situation that, given the setting sun, could have led to near darkness, potentially affecting the outcome.

Austin Nichols and Adrianne Palicki on What They Want Audiences to Feel

  • TopMob: “When audiences see this movie and walk out of the theater, what do you both hope that they take away from the film they just experienced?”

Austin Nichols aspires for audiences to depart the theater feeling content that their time and money weren’t squandered, but also emotionally moved. Regardless if they laughed heartily, shed tears, or experienced a mix of both, or perhaps found something horrifying or violent, he simply hopes it left an indelible impression on them – one they won’t forget easily.

They desire to discuss it with their companions and share it with someone, making sure the conversation sticks in people’s minds. In other words, they aim to make an impression and create a lasting memory while also emphasizing that there is significance to the topic as well.

As a movie enthusiast, I find myself yearning for uplifting tales these days, something that feels like a comforting embrace. It seems there’s a scarcity of such heartwarming films in production currently.

To ensure that individuals feel uplifted after visiting a theater, and in life overall, it seems crucial. In essence, I believe simply allowing people to ‘be’ is significant. That was the atmosphere on set each day; it was so inviting that I didn’t want to depart.

In an uncommon twist of events, I found myself yearning for a swift escape, longing to return home. Yet, as the clock ticked, I found myself asking if there was anything more I could contribute here on set. Truth be told, I was contemplating a bit of relaxation. Simply put, my actions reflected on the screen, mirroring the commitment and dedication that every movie reviewer should embody.

  • TopMob: “The movie is all about trying to save an establishment that’s close to these characters. What is one place in your lives that maybe has been lost over time that you would love to see continue on, but it’s been lost to time or is on the verge of being shut down? “

As a movie reviewer, I found myself drawn to an establishment known as the Dry Creek Saloon, nestled not far from the lofty heights of Mount Bunnell – where that iconic group shot at the cliff edge was filmed. This seemingly out-of-place watering hole stood in a neighborhood that defied the very essence of its purpose; it wasn’t even legally allowed to serve alcohol, making its presence all the more intriguing.

You’d certainly want to visit that well-known spot, where buying a beer would earn you a koozie and allow you to relax on the deck, enjoying the sunset. Its fame was due to the old lady who managed the place being quite stern if you didn’t return your empty bottles, refusing to serve more beer unless you did so first, as she had to clean up herself.

Oh dear, I adore that place so much. Now it’s vanished, and it seems countless other such spots have disappeared too. It’s truly heartbreaking to see beloved places fade away.

Adrianne Palicki has lived in Austin for nearly two decades and feels deeply connected to it. If places like Continental Club or Broken Spoke were ever shut down, she would consider moving away. In her eyes, the soul of the city would be lost without these establishments.

The full interview with the duo can be seen here:

The movie titled “The Salamander King” has recently been premiered at the Dallas, Texas, International Film Festival, yet there’s no specified date for its official release as of now.

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2025-04-26 22:36