WGN America's witch drama Salem has unveiled the unsettling first official trailer online, before it hits TV screens this weekend.

Created by Brannon Braga and Adam Simon, Salem chronicles the world of the most notorious witch trials in history, a period steeped in fear, suspicion and hysteria. Janet Montgomery, Shane West, Seth Gabel, Ashley Madekwe and Xander Berkeley star in the cabler's first scripted effort.

After an atmospheric teaser in December set up the intense and oft-dramatic lives, the new trailer offers actual glimpses at the dark turn Salem will take as the story unfurls.

PHOTOS: 2014's New Broadcast and Cable TV Shows

Here, the basic premise of the story is better explained, with many townspeople paranoid that there are witches walking among them in the 17th century. "The devil has come down onto you," one of the leads says. "There can be nothing worse for Salem than a witch hunt," another declares. But when paranoia turns out to be well-founded, things get bloody quickly.

"The good souls of Salem will drown themselves in innocent blood."

Braga on Jan. 12 promised reporters at the biannual Television Critics Association press tour that Salem will be grounded. "Our show is about witches; there are no vampires or werewolves," he said. "We are hoping our form of magic is different; it's more grounded in the kind of things people claimed happened at the time. It's less Harry Potter and more grounded in nature."

Watch the first official trailer above.

Salem premieres Sunday, April 20, on WGN America.

Email: Philiana.Ng@THR.com

Twitter: @insidethetube