DANCES WITH FILMS 2025 REVIEW! Evan Morton’s documentary, Folsom’s Run, spotlights the works of the LA-based Apex Protection Project. Their mission is to educate, rescue, and find homes for the exotic breed “pet” known as wolf-dogs.
While it’s clearly dangerous to have a wolf for a pet (unless you’re Jon Snow from Winterfell), someone not-so-long ago thought it was a good idea to domesticate a wolf by breeding it with a dog. The result was the creation of a wolf-dog—a breed not exactly suitable as pets. Wolves themselves are not aggressive; they are afraid of people. It’s the owners who often abuse wolfdogs, and in the case of Folsom, he got out of hand, which brought in Apex to rescue Folsom.
Folsom’s Run documents the story of a wolf-dog named Folsom, who became too much to handle for his master. This is where Paula Ficara and Steve Wastell from Apex Protection Project come in. As an alternative to euthanizing Folsom, Apex came in to rescue him and found him a new home at a beautiful ranch. The title refers to the moment when Apex arrived to capture Folsom—he was so full of energy, they had him run non-stop until he was tired enough to enter his crate.
Folsom peers out of an enclosure, capturing the tension between captivity and freedom.
“…from capture to finding a new home.”
Folsom’s Run raises awareness, first, for those who think it’s a good idea to take in an exotic breed of animal, such as a wolf-dog. Second, it shows that euthanasia isn’t the only option for owners who don’t know how to handle these hybrids and highlights organizations like Apex that can intervene.
The film simply follows Folsom’s journey from capture to finding a new home. Along the way, we see Paula and Steve’s years of experience with Apex in action, as they share small but impactful insights along the way. Any documentary that offers practical solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems deserves to be seen.
If you love animals, Folsom’s Run is a must-see movie and packs a lot of punch in its 15-minute runtime. Evan Morton’s documentary not only tells the emotional journey of a misunderstood wolf-dog but also highlights the dedication and compassion of the Apex Protection Project. With its real-world impact and heartfelt storytelling, Folsom’s Run serves as a powerful reminder that second chances are possible—even for the most challenging animals—when the right people are willing to lend a hand.
Folsom’s Run screened at the 2025 Dances With Films.
"…packs a lot of punch..."
