FloatingOpera7 Review of A Date with Darkness: The Trial and Capture of Andrew Luster

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

A Disturbing Real Story: Caution Tale For All Women

[10/10 · 28 February 2005]

This film aired on Lifetime summer of 2003. At the time of its production, Andrew Luster, heir to the Max Factor fortune, was arrested in Mexico by the bounty hunter "Mad Dog", charged with counts of rape and intoxicating his victims. This film is pure reality, no hold bars. The scenes are graphic and even disturbing- such as the rape in the shower scene and other "rape" scenes. Andre Luster, a spoiled rich man, got away with rape because he drugged his hapless victims with Liquid X. This is a date rape drug that can easily be slipped into an unattended drink at a bar. The biggest warning in this story is not to leave an alcoholic drink unattended. Andrew Luster frequented the bars of Southern California. The three women in this film (one played by Marla Sokoloff) finally summon the courage to tell the truth in court. Not even with all his money could this man-devil get away with his horrific crimes. Lifetime is known for such graphic cautionary tales about predators and women victims, but this is used so that women can wake up and put a stop to it, empowering them to take a stand, to call the authorities/police, to take defense classes, to put rapists behind bar. In the case of Andrew Luster, no one suspected he was a rapist. He came off as charming, he was even sexy. Jason Gedrick, an actor best known for his role in Boomtown the TV series, gets into the criminal character effectively. This is my final word on this. Since the material is R rated, young children should not watch this. Teenage girls who are interested in the bar/club scene..(and yes even underage girls drink, since todays' girls mature so quickly they already look like they are 21 and older) should watch this movie with their girlfriends, talk about the movie afterward and take more care next time they go to a club. Also, mothers with teenage daughters or who are ages 18-21, should watch this film together to discuss the potential dangers of leaving a drink unattended. Thank goodness for the heroic efforts of Mad Dog and of Lifetime in the final capture of Andrew Luster, who I hope rots in jail and gets raped himself while in there!!!