About Salem

Salem, released in 2014, is a supernatural horror television series set in the 17th-century colonial town of Salem, Massachusetts. The plot is heavily centered around the infamous witch trials that occurred during that time. However, it bends the historical facts by implying that witches were real and part of everyday life. These witches are not misunderstood herbalists but servants of the devil, weaving complex plots and manipulating events to pave the way for the ultimate grand rite.

Making / Production

Salem was created by Brannon Braga and Adam Simon, who served as the series' executive producers. The show was shot in Shreveport, Louisiana, where a replica of the town of Salem was created. The series premiered on WGN America on April 20, 2014, becoming the network's first original scripted series.

Actors

• Janet Montgomery as 'Mary Sibley' – Janet brings to life the character of Mary Sibley, a powerful witch who controls the happenings in Salem. She plays the role with refined elegance and a subtle but sinister charm.
• Shane West as 'John Alden' – Shane delivered a charismatic and romantically tormented John Alden. His performance was noted for its versatility, presenting Alden as both a hardened war veteran and loving yet unwilling participant in Salem's witch-infested plot.
• Seth Gabel as 'Cotton Mather' – Seth portrays Cotton Mather, an academic who investigates the supernatural happenings in Salem. Gabel's performance adds an element of conflicted morality to the character.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The character, Mary Sibley, is based on an actual person - the wife of Salem's richest merchant in 1692.
• Despite being set in Salem, Massachusetts, the series was filmed in Louisiana due to the state's tax incentives.
• This was the first original script commissioned for WGN America.

Quotes

• "I find it not matters what a person believes only that they believe." - Mary Sibley
• "It's not a dream, it's a memory and it makes me sick!" - John Alden
• "Ignorance and superstition fear not. Knowledge is the only thing to fear, and such is my gift to you." - Increase Mather

Music, Soundtrack

• The show's scores were composed by Tyler Bates, offering an ominous yet captivating soundtrack that complements the dark undertones of the series.
• The haunting opening theme "Cupid Carries a Gun" was performed by Marilyn Manson and Tyler Bates.