10 Most Controversial Horror Movie Moments
7. No, Not THAT Scene - Psycho
The shower scene isn't just the most iconic moment in Psycho but one of the most memorable shots in cinema. The image of Janet Leigh's character, Marion Crane, being hacked to death in the bathroom with violins screeching in the background has been embedded in every viewer's mind. The scene was extra shocking since audiences were watching the supposed protagonist being killed off halfway through the movie.
It may be the most famous moment in the movie but it isn't the most controversial. One of the biggest hurdles that director Alfred Hitchcock faced was convincing the censor board to allow a scene where Crane flushes a toilet.
At the time, this had never been depicted in an American film. The London-born filmmaker fought for this shot, saying it was integral to the plot since Crane destroys evidence by flushing it down the loo. After a lot of back and forth, the censors relented, allowing Hitchcock to keep the scene.
Hitchcock may have gotten his way but he wasn't finished. Just to annoy the censor board more, he put the toilet on the film's poster.