Corey Stoll and Mia Maestro as seen in “The Strain”

Horror, vampire lore and medical sci-fi -- some of the entertainment industry's hottest trends -- collide this summer in an intense new cable series.

"The Strain" is being hailed as a dark and extremely creepy throwback to a type of vampire fiction that we haven't seen in a while. Set in New York City, the 13-episode series chronicles a mass outbreak of a virus that turns people into murderous, leeching, revolting vampire-like creatures. And you thought flu season was bad. "The Strain" premieres Sunday, July 13, on FX.

The series kicks off with a medical mystery. A plane lands at JFK airport with its lights off and doors locked and all but four passengers aboard are found dead, though there doesn't appear to be an obvious cause. An epidemiologist and his team are sent aboard to find out what could have caused the mass casualties, but the closer they look, the more mysterious the phenomenon becomes.

The show strikes a perfect balance between cerebral intrigue, suspense and visual horror and gore. As the bodies of the victims found on the plane begin to go missing from various morgues and the four survivors begin to exhibit very strange symptoms, you'll find yourself just as wrapped up in solving the mystery -- and finding a cure -- as the show's protagonists.

As events unfold, it's not just the mystery that will keep you glued to your television. It's surprisingly refreshing to see vampires characterized as the evil bloodsuckers of the pre-Stoker days, as opposed to the sparkling brooders we've been assailed with recently.

"The Strain" also boasts some of the best special effects on television, and the gross-out, body-horror scenes continually shock and impress, and so they should -- the "Master of Horror" himself is at the helm.

A lot of major players have come together to make this new series possible, but the integral player is Guillermo del Toro. Del Toro's name is all over this project in the best possible way. The legendary filmmaker, responsible for films such as "Pan's Labyrinth" (2006), "Hellboy" (2004) and "Mama" (2013), literally wrote the book the series is based on.

After pitching the show's premise to various major networks, del Toro was discouraged with the response (one network even wanted to turn it into a comedy). When someone suggested turning the concept into a series of novels instead of television shows, del Toro jumped at the idea, but knew he needed help. Enter big-time crime novelist Chuck Hogan, whose work includes the novel "Prince of Thieves," which was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film "The Town" (2010).

In 2009, del Toro explained to Wired why he sought out Hogan's help: "I've written short stories in Spanish and English. I've written screenplays. But I'm not good at forensic novels. I'm not good at haz-mat language and that 'CSI'-style precision. When Stoker wrote Dracula, it was very modern, a 'CSI' sort of novel. I wanted to give 'The Strain' a procedural feel, where everything seems real."

David Bradley stars in “The Strain”

The two have definitely succeeded in creating something both realistic and fantastical -- not an easy combination to nail. The mad success of their novel series brought the project full-circle, and this time around, del Toro decided to go the cable route instead of turning to a major network. When executive producer Cartlon Cuse, who won an Emmy for his work on "Lost," signed on as well, FX knew the project would be a gem.

The series has also been blessed with a list of superb actors. First and foremost: Corey Stoll. Stoll made quite a splash last year as the doomed Congressman Peter Russo in Netflix's runaway hit "House of Cards," alongside Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. He's set to star in this year's promising black comedy "This Is Where I Leave You," as well as 2015's "Black Mass," with Johnny Depp and Benedict Cumberbatch, and "Ant-Man," with Paul Rudd.

Stoll's career is really taking off, and his role in "The Strain" is sure to help. He plays Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, head of the CDC Canary team in New York City and the epidemiologist put in charge of investigating the plane full of corpses. Dr. Goodweather and his team are the first to encounter the strain of vampirism that ultimately spreads throughout New York, and the viewer sees much of the action from the doctor's vantage point. Stoll's phenomenal performance is a big part of why the series works so well.

One of the show's most mysterious characters is that of Prof. Abraham Setrakian, a holocaust survivor living in New York who may hold the keys to solving the mystery of the horrific outbreak. Playing Setrakian is an actor you may not know by name, but will almost certainly recognize.

David Bradley is perhaps best known for his portrayal of gruff caretaker Argus Filch in the "Harry Potter" film franchise, and "Game of Thrones" fans will know him as the worst wedding guest ever, Walder Frey, but he's enjoyed an illustrious career that stretches back as far as 1971. Bradley's Prof. Setrakian oozes mystery and intrigue, and his commitment to the supporting role is flawless.

Another "Game of Thrones" alum is working on "The Strain," but not in front of the camera. Ramin Djawadi, who composed the already-legendary music for the HBO series, is also working on the soundtrack to this vampire series. His haunting music fleshes out each scene, doing as much to create the creepy atmosphere as the actors and special effects.

The general consensus among those who have screened the show is this: it's the incredibly intense final scene of the first episode that will hook you, you really don't want to miss this. So grab a friend, make some popcorn, turn out the lights and turn on your TV, because this show is about to become appointment television.

"The Strain" premieres Sunday, July 13, on FX.