Sandpoint's Panida Theater made headlines in April when it pulled a screening of the comedy/thriller, "Wild Canaries" because of a failure to advertise the unrated film's adult content.

The movie is available now on Netflix Instant streaming, and the controversy will be immortalized as a minor footnote on the film's Wikipedia page - at least until someone edits the wiki again.

Most wouldn't consider "Wild Canaries" to be especially provocative. The film contains adult language, minor drug use and suggestions of violence. No sex or nudity either, but the film features a few characters who are homosexual, and there's a girl-on-girl kiss that's tamer than a Katy Perry music video.

Following the screening cancellation, one of the film's stars lashed out at the Panida publicly, and a photo of the theater's marquee reading, "'Wild Canaries' canceled due to content," made the rounds online.

Taken out of context, it all sounds pretty bad. In reality, the incident is more a case of questionable public relations than any proof of North Idaho intolerance.

The Panida often screens R-rated movies and films with adult content - and it warns audiences of said content beforehand so they can make their own decisions about seeing the film. In a Facebook post at the time, organizers explained the theater initially advertised the screening of "Wild Canaries" without knowing anything about the rating content. The film is unrated, as many independent films are these days, and the theater claimed the film's distributor did not provide content details beforehand.

The same Facebook post suggested the movie would be rescheduled with proper content warnings at a later date. Much of the incident has since been wiped from the theater's Facebook page, but the theater's website listed another screening of "Wild Canaries" in May, just a few weeks after the original screening date.

I suppose some might see the theater's explanation and rescheduling of the movie as media damage control. I'd rather give the Panida's owners the benefit of the doubt. Their explanation seemed genuine, and it's hard to see anyone taking a stand against a movie that has no political or content-pushing agenda.

Schedule and reschedule whatever you want, just avoid using the words, "canceled due to content" on a giant marquee. On the Internet, that image won't wait for an explanation.

The local intrigue is all just a roundabout way to recommend "Wild Canaries" on Netflix Instant. The film centers on a possible murder, and at times director Lawrence Michael Levine knows how to play those genre beats for straight thrills. The tone is mostly comical though, and the central relationship between an engaged couple gives the caper a unique access point.

Sophia Takal is terrific as an ambitious-but-unfocused 20-something who obsesses over the details of her elderly neighbor's demise, and director Levine plays her older, more skeptical fiance who'd rather not be bothered by the whole thing. The mystery eventually sucks him in, as well as the couple's other friends and neighbors, played by the likes of Jason Ritter ("Parenthood") and Alia Shawkat ("Arrested Development").

"Wild Canaries" goes familiar places, but the characters are nuanced and appealing. Don't fear the "light R" unrated content - give it a spin.

Also, if you're in Sandpoint, be sure to visit the Panida Theater. It's a beautiful, historic venue showing all sorts of entertainment you won't see anywhere else in the area. The world needs more independent movie houses. www.Panida.org

Tyler Wilson can be reached at [email protected].