The performances in the film are enjoyable and demonstrate the diverse performers upon whom Johnson had tremendous influence. Standing out are the performances of Gov't Mule, Chris Whitley, Robert Lockwood Jr., and a solo acoustic performance by Keb' Mo.

The substantive look at the life and legends of Robert Johnson was somewhat less in-depth than one might expect. While it touched on all the well-known highlights of his short life, it did not always probe as deeply as it should have. For instance, Robert Johnson is perhaps most famous for the legend that he went down to the Crossroads and sold his soul to the devil to learn to play the guitar. While there was some deliberation as to where the crossroads were, the film did not delve substantially into what the roots or motivations for the legend might have been, and how that legend was told and referenced in Robert Johnson's own lyrics (for instance, "Hellhounds on my trail.") Also, while addressing the subject of Johnson's death, the film doesn't the wide variety of stories about how he might have died, looking only to one or two of them.

Also, although Johnson's musical influence is easily seen on the bands performing his work, his virtual creation of the 12-bar blues pattern is not discussed. Johnson's life is an interesting one and even more intriguing is that with all the sound recordings he made, there are only two pictures of him from which music enthusiasts may piece together who he was. One of the most interesting portions of the film is the examination of some home movie footage showing a black man playing the guitar with incredible speed and precission. In the film is a debate over whether or not the man in this short film is Robert Johnson. Also very interesting was the interview with Willie Coffee, a man who knew Robert Johnson growing up, although at times his speech is a little soft and hard to catch.
The Picture:
Hellhounds On My Trail is presented in full frame picture. The picture quality varies throughout the film and shows some imperfections, particularly during a couple of the live performances. Because this is a documentary, any imperfections do not really negatively impact the viewing experience. The Sound:
The film is presented in 2 channel Dolby Digital sound. The sound on the musical performances is very good, and the documentary itself is mainly speech and interview driven. The interview with Willie Coffee may require the viewer to increase the volume, but otherwise, the viewer need not generally adjust the volume during the film. The Extras:
While there are relatively few extras on the DVD, the film does a lot with what it has. The DVD contains an extremely thorough discography of Robert Johnson, detailing all of his original singles and even the recent compilations and anthologies featuring his work.

The DVD menu does allow the viewer to select a band from those performing for the film and go directly to their performance in the film. This can be very enjoyable, especially if the viewer is a fan of the bands who contributed songs. Also available on the DVD are a number of bonus tracks, containing 12 audio track performances from the bands who contributed to the film. While it would be much more enjoyable if they had included video footage of concert performances, this is a nice treat, nonetheless.
The DVD also contains weblinks to winstarvideo.com and deltahaze.com and production credits for the film. Final Thoughts:
While not always going deep enough into the stories of Robert Johnson's life, the performances on this DVD are a fine tribute to his influence and his music. While it would have been enjoyable to see some more well-known acts paying and playing tribute to the blues legend, this DVD is enjoyable for any music fan and a worthy addition to the collection of any devout Robert Johnson fan.