The trailer opens – a soft voice interrupts a haunting piano as scenes of an unfamiliar America flash across the screen. From director André Øvredal and Academy Award winner Guillermo del Toro, comes the anticipated cinematic adaptation of Alvin Schwartz’s acclaimed book series, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. The first trailer for the multi-narrative film was released Thursday. The preview gave fans a deeper look at some of the grotesque tales that have haunted generations.

The horror film follows a group of teenagers as they attempt to solve a string of uncanny murders in their hometown and high school. The film shows the group of misfit adolescents find an eerie journal inside an even more chilling mansion. The group discovers that the book is filled with horrifying stories that reveal terrible secrets about the author, Sarah, and the town that persecuted her. It is up to the group of students to try and figure out what is happening to their town if Sarah’s journal is somehow involved.

Del Toro produced and wrote the screenplay for Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark with Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan. Del Toro announced his intention to work on the project last April, just a month after his historic win for best director and picture for The Shape of Water. Øvredal directed the upcoming horror flick.

CBS Films and Lionsgate will release Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark on August, 9. Check out the full trailer for the horror film below.