Rarely do new independent films have a narrative momentum unlike anything we’ve seen, but this is certainly the case with John Magary’s comic drama THE MEND, which premiered at SXSW in 2014 and is now in release. Essentially a story of the relationship between two brothers (performed by Josh Lucas and Stephen Plunkett) over the course of a New York City weekend, the film, with little explanation, turns into a contest of strange transgressions and verbal spars that point to the unmooring of lives and personalities. Brought to life by a brave cast, THE MEND is an exciting challenge and announces the arrival of a fascinating new voice in independent cinema.