If one is to believe the histrionic and sensationalist media coverage that preceded the release of Oliver Stone's satirical film Natural Born Killers, and which ironically paralleled events in the film, a busy time may be expected for our colleagues working in forensic psychiatry. It would not be surprising if viewing of the film was to be adduced by a desperate defence lawyer as an incitement to commit acts of violence. Hopefully, no such argument would be deemed admissible as the film's formal qualities deliberately militate against audience identification with on-screen characters and incidents.