Canadian actress Taylor Hickson has filed a lawsuit against the producers of the horror film Ghostland following a serious injury on set. The accident, which occurred during filming in 2016, left Hickson with lasting facial scars and required hospital treatment.
During the shooting of a key scene, Hickson was instructed to pound her fists against a door with a glass panel. The glass shattered, cutting the left side of her face deeply and causing extensive injuries. She was rushed to the hospital and required 70 stitches.
The lawsuit, filed against Incident Productions, claims the director, Pascal Laugier, repeatedly told Hickson to hit the glass harder. Hickson reportedly asked both the director and a producer if it was safe to continue, and both reassured her it was.
At one point, the glass broke, causing Hickson’s head and upper body to fall through the door along with shards of broken glass. The injuries were severe and left her with permanent scars on the left side of her face, despite ongoing treatments including laser and silicone therapies.
Hickson’s legal claim states that the accident caused her significant mental distress. The lawsuit also argues that proper safety measures were ignored. Industry standards typically require the use of safety glass—designed to break into harmless pieces—or the use of a stunt double for such risky scenes. Neither safety glass nor a stunt double was used during filming.
The film Ghostland is set to premiere later this month in Paris. In a striking and unfortunate coincidence, the movie poster shows a girl with cracks across her face, echoing Hickson’s real injury.
This case raises important questions about on-set safety in the film industry. Actors often face dangerous situations during filming, but safety protocols are meant to protect them from serious harm. Hickson’s lawsuit highlights the risks when these protocols are not followed.
Taylor Hickson is known for her work in various film and television projects. This incident has drawn attention to her and sparked discussion on improving safety standards on movie sets. The outcome of her lawsuit may impact how future productions handle similar scenes to avoid harm to actors.