I want to preface this review by saying I am embarrassed. I was embarrassed for not knowing more about this documentary sooner and embarrassed by the film’s lack of attention from the media. Finding Kendrick Johnson sits at 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes with five critics’ reviews and no reviews from trades. Was the film not appropriately promoted? Was it ignored on purpose? What happened here?

This lack of attention is par for the course for Kendrick and his family. They’ve been dismissed and ignored, much like the documentary of Kendrick’s life and death. Directed by Jason Pollock, Finding Kendrick Johnson is less about visual style and more about providing insight into a case that is often forgotten.

Kendrick was an 18-year old student at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Ga. He was beloved by his family, well-liked at school, and participated in all sorts of sports. One...