Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Robert Johnson was one of the most influential blues guitarists ever. Even before his early death, fans wondered if he'd made a pact with the Devil.
A well-constructed documentary entry in Netflix's ReMastered series exploring the Robert Johnson myth, but it covers familiar ground for blues enthusiasts. The devil-at-the-crossroads legend and Johnson's mysterious death are compelling subject matter, though the storytelling stays relatively conventional for the doc format. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable, relying on archival stills and talking-head interviews typical of music documentaries. Acting is not applicable in the traditional sense, but interview subjects are competent rather than revelatory. The ending lacks a strong conclusive punch, leaving the mystery open without particularly innovative framing. Novelty is modest — Johnson's story is well-trodden territory, though the ReMastered series format gives it some polish.