Brampton child actor advances career in movie at Sundance

Peter DaCunha (center) with Chloe Rose (left) and Rachel Wilson in a scene from Hellions.

By Aynslee Darmon

BRAMPTON – At age 11, Peter DaCunha‘s acting career is continuing to grow since starring in this year’s Sundance Film Festival (Jan. 22 – Feb. 1) feature Hellions.

Hellions, a horror movie, is one of many films DaCunha has been a part of since getting his start working on television commercials at six-years old.

“Hellions is about (actress) Chloe Rose, who plays my sister, Dora. She has to fight and survive under siege in her own home against evil trick-or-treaters that come knocking at her door on Halloween,” said DaCunha.

“I play her little brother Remi who goes trick-or-treating while all this is happening to her,” he said.

DaCunha, of Brampton, said he felt right at home since most of the cast is Canadian (apart from Robert Patrick, Terminator 2) including Rose, Rossif Sutherland, Rachel Wilson and Luke Bilyk. Director Bruce McDonald is also Canadian.

“The cast and crew was truly amazing to work with. They were really nice and they made everything really fun,” DaCunha said.

“Bruce McDonald would let me have my own ideas about the character and he was really supportive, really funny and super nice. And Rachel Wilson and Chloe Rose as well, I did most of my scenes with them,” he said.

DaCunha said, with the excitement of Hellions premiering at Sundance, he’s eager to start working on more feature films.

“My favourite thing about acting would probably be being able to play all those different characters. One minute I could be a really cool kid who needs an attitude adjustment and then I could play a nerdy kid who is really smart and nice to everyone.”

Along with Hellions which is set to be released later this year, DaCunha will also appear in the upcoming film Remember with Christopher Plummer and directed by Academy Award-nominated Atom Egoyan. 

DaCunha stars in part of a horror anthology (a collection of short films) called XX. Jovanka Vuckovic is one of five female directors who will direct a portion of the film called The Box which stars DaCunha.  The Box will also star Natalie Brown, Jonathan Watton and Peyton Kennedy.