Tenderfoot TV's Radio Rental debuts stop-motion LEGO-inspired horror short film on YouTube
Tenderfoot TV, the award-winning podcast studio behind Up and Vanished, To Live and Die in LA, and Wisecrack, has partnered with Twisted Bricks and creator, award-winning stop-motion filmmaker Kristian Stenslie, to bring one of its most popular Radio Rental stories to life in an entirely new medium. Directed by Stenslie, the 10-minute stop-motion documentary short film, Laura of the Woods, uses intricate, handcrafted LEGO-inspired animation to visually retell a chilling firsthand account. The story follows a young boy whose ordinary day exploring the woods takes a disturbing turn when he encounters a mysterious girl whose intentions remain unclear. The film premieres October 22nd at 8 PM ET on YouTube, followed by the return of Radio Rental with new podcast episodes on October 23, just in time for Halloween.
Originally featured on Radio Rental, Laura of the Woods has generated over 3 million downloads, becoming one of the series’ most memorable stories. Created by Payne Lindsey, Radio Rental explores bizarre crimes, paranormal encounters, and unexplained phenomena through firsthand accounts from the people who experienced them. Set inside a fictional 1980s video rental shop, the cult classic-inspired series blends documentary storytelling with dark comedy and has surpassed 85 million downloads since launching in 2019, celebrating its milestone 100th episode earlier this year.
The collaboration arrives amid a strong year for horror at the box office and a shifting entertainment landscape where independent creators are finding new ways to reach audiences. Rather than pursuing a conventional animated adaptation, Tenderfoot TV partnered with Twisted Bricks to create something unexpected: a creator-led documentary short that combines the nostalgic appeal of brick-built stop-motion with the immersive atmosphere of true-life horror.
“‘Laura of the Woods’ still creeps me out, and I already know how it ends,” said Payne Lindsey, co-founder of Tenderfoot TV and creator of Radio Rental. “Kristian and Twisted Bricks built this entire little nightmare by hand, one frame at a time. The level of detail is insane. You get caught up in the story and forget you’re watching stop-motion. I love that something made out of toys can be this unsettling.”
The upcoming season also welcomes back actor and comedian Tony Cavalero (“The Righteous Gemstones”), reprising his role as Vince. Cavalero follows Rainn Wilson (“The Office”), who originated the role of eccentric shopkeeper Terry Carnation, and comedian Jeff Foxworthy (“Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”), who later took over the shop. The Radio Rental universe has also featured a memorable lineup of guest voices, including Tig Notaro (“Star Trek: Discovery”), Rachel Dratch (“Saturday Night Live”), Josh Radnor (“How I Met Your Mother”), Chris Redd (“Saturday Night Live”), and Brian Baumgartner (“The Office”).
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About Tenderfoot TV
Founded by Atlanta director and filmmaker Payne Lindsey and music industry veteran Donald Albright, Tenderfoot TV is an award-winning podcast and entertainment studio behind some of the industry's most acclaimed shows. The company's breakthrough came in 2016 with Up and Vanished, the true-crime phenomenon that helped bring renewed attention to a decade-old cold case resulting in two arrests and has generated more than 500 million downloads across four seasons.
With more than 1 billion downloads to date, Tenderfoot's acclaimed productions include “Atlanta Monster,” “Dear Alana,” “The MLK Tapes,” “Radio Rental'' starring Rainn Wilson, the Associated Press’ Podcast of the Year (2019), “To Live and Die in LA,” and “Wisecrack,” named The Guardian's Best Podcast of 2025. The company continues to expand into television and film, most recently with Universal Studio Group's UCP acquiring the rights to adapt Wisecrack into a scripted television series.
A recipient of the 2020 Icon/Pioneer Award at the iHeart Podcast Awards, Tenderfoot has collaborated with leading entertainment companies including A24, HBO, Netflix, iHeart, Audible, Audacy, Spotify, and Issa Rae's Raedio. Visit tenderfoot.tv for more information.
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