Wuthering Heights scene that’s more shocking than controversial Saltburn bathtub moment

Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, hit cinemas last Friday (13 February), and it has already sparked quite the heated discussion online.

Whether it was the controversy over the steamy romance flick's differences from Emily Brontë's 1847 classic novel, the shocking 'BDSM' dog collar scene or the heavy dose of finger-sucking sprinkled throughout, it's clear that cinema fans have a whole lot to say.

Now, fans of Fennell will also know she directed Saltburn back in 2023, which also starred Elordi alongside Alison Oliver, who played Isabella in Wuthering Heights.

Anyone who watched the thriller-comedy will have the viral bathtub scene etched into their memory. For those who need their memory jogged, the film's plot follows student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), who is struggling to find his place at Oxford University.

He soon finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, 'for a summer never to be forgotten'.

The most talked-about scene in the flick is when Oliver takes it upon himself to slurp up the used bath water that Felix was masturbating in mere minutes before.

But there's a scene in Fennell's latest project, Wuthering Heights, which is supposedly even more shocking than the Saltburn bathtub moment.

Speaking to Variety, Fennell opened up about what her first steamy 'visual' was for the film after that infamous bathtub scene.

Could Wuthering Heights' rock scene have topped Saltburn's bathtub scene? (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

"It was a similar one," she said during the red carpet interview during the world premiere of the movie, adding: "I probably can’t spoil it, but something happens on a rock."

She then teased: "I think people will know."

The award-winning director was referencing the scene where Cathy (Robbie) masturbates up against, you guessed it, a rock while Heathcliff (Elordi) watches over her from afar.

After catching her in the act, Cathy becomes utterly embarrassed while Heathcliff tries to reassure her, which results in her stuffing a load of grass into his mouth.

The pair have a momentary pause before Heathcliff proceeds to put Cathy's, um, recently used fingers into his mouth.

The rock scene is arguably the most X-rated scene in Wuthering Heights (Warner Bros.)

Robbie herself has discussed this scene, telling Greg James on BBC Radio 1 last Tuesday (11 February): "The first scene, I think, really sets the tone for the film."

For context, the first scene sees a man being hanged while onlookers laugh about his being erect during the act.

Discussing the masturbation scene, James continued: "Mm hmm. My second note is, 'Don’t remember that bit from the book.' I've put for that bit, 'Clifftop alone time.'"

"We called that section something else, which I won't repeat on the radio," Robbie said, before teasing: "I'll tell you what we used to call that rock when we were shooting when we’re off the air."

Wonder what it was...

Wuthering Heights is available to watch in selected cinemas