Helena Anna Flanagan

A contemporary ghost story about an unemployed magician who resurrects TV personality Tommy Cooper who famously died mid-performance in 1984, blurring the line between delusion and performance.

BURNT TOAST is a contemporary ghost story that resurrects legendary British comedian Tommy Cooper, who famously died mid-performance in 1984. Combining machine learning, VHS, archival materials and a trained impersonator, the film follows Phil, an unemployed magician trapped in the decaying home of the director’s late schizophrenic uncle. Phil’s hallucinatory act explores social class, identity, mental health, and delusion—punctuated by Cooper’s trademark jokes and failed magic tricks.