, the first R-rated Christian horror movie adapted from a book by best-selling writers Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker, had a modest opening in theaters at the weekend.

The film based on the 2006 Thomas Nelson novel took $355,000 in receipts at 363 box offices according to boxofficemojo.com, earning 24th spot in the chart led by Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, which grossed more than $63 million from its debut at 4,000-plus theaters.

Meanwhile, the church-made, pro-marriage movie Fireproof ended its seventh week of release in 14th position, taking in $1.6 million to bring its total earnings to date to almost $30 million, said the movie business Web site.

Prior to its release, House makers had expressed concern at the R rating, given for "terror and violence," fearing it may keep some Christian filmgoers away. The film poster features a pentagram seen in the movie.

The symbol appears on movie tie-in editions of the novel, but Thomas Nelson has also "proactively" kept the original trade paper edition—whose cover depicts the outline of a darkened house—"for any stores who prefer this," said publicist Katie Schroder.

A review at moviesonline.ca found House to be "far from brilliant but light years ahead of any Christian-based movie so far," but others were less enthusiastic. The Orlando Sentinel considered the film "just not very good," giving it one of five stars.

Others were divided over its message. Pegasusnews.com found "no hint" of a strong Christian bent, while for thehorrorgeek.com, House "wears its religion on its sleeve… to try to convert you. … "

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