A Date with Darkness: The Trial and Capture of Andrew Luster (TV 2003)

Andrew Luster, the heir to the Max factor fortune, is convicted of rape on 86 counts. This Lifetime original movie recounts the rapes committed by the infamous Andrew Luster and the women who brought him to justice.

Director:

Bobby Roth

Writer:

Christopher Canaan

Stars:

Jason Gedrick, Marla Sokoloff, Lisa Edelstein

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Gedrick	...	Andrew Luster
Marla Sokoloff	...	Connie
Lisa Edelstein	...	Maeve Fox
Sarah Carter	...	Sarah
Stefanie von Pfetten	...	Teri
Winston Rekert	...	Fred
Tom Butler	...	Roger Diamond
Shane Meier	...	Daniel
Robert Wisden	...	Sam
Samantha Ferris	...	Det. Katherine Cooke
Kevin McNulty	...	Judge Riley
Kavan Smith	...	Anthony Wold
Jody Thompson	...	Amy
Rebecca Toolan	...	Mrs. Luster
Kerry Sandomirsky	...	Dr. Dyer

Storyline

On 14 July 2000, in Ventura County, California, the young Connie is raped by the Max Factor heir Andrew Luster after ingesting a drug called Liquid X in a glass of water offered by him in a night-club. With the support of her father, she reluctantly decides to go to the police and tells her snapshots of the occurrence. Connie and the police collects evidence to send Andrew to the jury and during the investigation, two other victims of Andrew, Sarah and Teri, are found and join the accusation.

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Plot Keywords:

revenge | long title | date rape | fugitive | detective | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 August 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Date with Darkness

Filming Locations:

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carlton America, Larry Thompson Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the film started production, Andrew Luster was still at large after having been convicted in absentia of 86 counts of rape, poisoning and drug possession and sentenced to 124 years in prison. The film was supposed to end with a picture of the real Andrew Luster, asking the audience to notify authorities if they should see him. On June 20, 2003 Andrew Luster was captured in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, while the film was still shooting. The ending was re-written to incorporate Luster's capture.

User Reviews

Truth is stranger, and scarier than fiction....

This film is based on Max Factor heir, Andrew Luster, a resident of Ventura County and fan of dosing unwary females with GHB (a sometimes lethal anesthesia drug, which has no taste or odor), and then committing serial rape and abuse.

This film falls into a positive LMN category as it is something every young girl should watch along with any mother. It is sometimes incomprehensible to realize what sociopaths are capable of. Until we read the true horrific headlines in the local news, we think it can never happen in our neighborhood, or to us. So untrue. A false sense of security is what sociopaths prey on. Many of the victims here were educated, decent people, who simply fell into a relationship or meeting with the culprit, Andrew Luster. Jason Gedrick is excellent, looks the part; an arrogant, privileged sociopath who laughs at the police detective, saying the police will never jail him: he is a Max Factor heir, he is above the law. (How many times have we seen this attitude in the national news, this year alone.) Lisa Edelstein as State Prosecutor also deserves credit for a good performance. Disgusted by Luster, she makes it her mission to prosecute him for crimes inflicted upon victims Connie, Sara, and Teri. Marla Sokoloff as Connie, and her father (well-portrayed by Robert Wisden) reflect the tragedy and outrage a father and daughter endure together, I can only hope the actual victims received ample family support.

Overall an important true story. Anyone interested in the psychology of sociopaths behavior may also be interested in DTMS/Times Discovery Channel, esteemed forensic psychiatrist Dr. Stone has a show entitled "Absolute Evil" wherein he dissects true crimes by sociopaths and murderers. 8/10.