By Sandra Varner

28 Days Later took audiences by surprise in 2003 earning well over $100 million internationally. Hoping to have repeat success, the sequel, 28 Weeks Later comes to theaters Friday from Fox Atomic and DNA Films.
   The premise is based on a virus that inhabits the residents of London, England and nearly wipes out the country out. Determined not to be defeated, military forces are set to do battle against the out-of-control virus that turns mere mortals into carnivorous savages.

    One family finds a measure of success against the virus. Their fight to stay alive is the nexus of 28 Weeks. Ending in somewhat of a lurch, and if a sequel to this sequel gets made, perhaps we’ll see if 28 Weeks Later delivers an antidote.
    If you’re a fan of horror flicks, this is one for the record books. Filmmakers indulge followers with liberal doses of fright and violence. Cast includes: Idris Elba (HBO’s “The Wire” and “Sometimes in April,” Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls), Harold Perrineau (The Best Man, TV’s hit “Lost”) and Robert Carlyle (Angela’s Ashes, Eragon) in this lineup of humans versus a ravaging disease.
    Perrineau took a few moments from his busy day to discuss the film --
Sandra Varner (SV): This movie has an interesting family dynamic. And, speaking of family dynamics, we’ve seen you in several “family settings” in such films as the Matrix II and III and in this one, 28 Weeks Later. Does it seem that “family-oriented” roles follow you?
Harold Perrineau (HP): They do. And, if you were to ask me {in my personal life} the place that I have the most difficulty is family stuff. There’s always something going on with me and my brothers and I find myself saying, “I don’t know what to do,” especially when they want me to solve matters. I find myself thinking, “Why can’t I be alone on an island and so on” (laughter). Yet, somehow I wind up doing lots of things with a “family” theme. It just works out that way.
SV: Among your siblings, which child are you? HP: I’m the oldest. SV: That perhaps explains it…everybody looks to you the chart the course and set the path for them to follow.
HP: Yes, exactly (laughter).
SV: Where are your siblings?
HP: Most of them are in New York and I have one brother who is in Maryland. We’re from New York.
SV: Listening to you speak, you carry a bit of an accent, or so it seems.
HP: You know, people have said that to me most of my life particularly since I began acting (Perrineau’s first credited acting role was in the 1982 hit TV series Fame as a dancer). I guess you do hear something in my voice that doesn’t indicate I’m from Brooklyn.
SV: Because you have such voice distinction, have you done or considered doing any narration or voice over work?
HP: I’ve been working on it but it’s really an odd thing. If you put me in front of a camera and I have (speaking) lines, I’m fine. I’m comfortable and in my element. But, if you put me in front of a mic, I freeze. It’s so different to hear my voice come back to me. I’ve been auditioning for a number of things just to get in the habit of it and as a practice tool. As an actor, I use my hands when I talk and I’m emotive so it’s been interesting just being alone with a microphone in a room getting used to expressing my emotions.
SV: It would appear that you have been identified by a number of standout roles. For the longest, people identified you with the Matrix franchise, then with the breakout TV hit, “Lost.”
HP: Who knew?!! “Lost” came right after Matrix which was such a big movie and oddly enough, there was a long down period between the two. I did some theatre and little bits on television here and there and had a part in the touring company of Top Dog/Under Dog (Suzan-Lori Parks Pulitzer Prize winning play). We toured California and two days after the play ran in Los Angeles, I got the call for “Lost” and we (my family) moved to Hawaii.
SV: Final comments?
HP: I love this movie 28 Weeks…it makes you consider and think.