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Fans of "The Strain" will notice changes this season — including the opening title sequence.

New music. New graphics. A new feel.

"We love it," said executive producer Carlton Cuse ("Lost," "Bates Motel"). "A good credit sequence should set a mood or a tone for the show. And we think of 'The Strain' as this sort of graphic novel thriller with horror."

That it is. Based on the book trilogy by executive producers Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, "The Strain" is about a very different kind of vampire — monsters who feed on humans and turn some of them into inhumans, too. The Master vampire left the Old World for New York, where he and his minions are infecting thousands and threatening the entire human race.

Season 3 begins Sunday on FX at 8, 9:03 and 11:05 p.m. on DirecTV and Dish; 11 p.m. and 12:03 a.m. on Comcast. And the vampires — or Strigoi — are getting smarter, stronger and quicker. The infection has spread to other parts of the country, but the main battle remains in the Big Apple.

The pace of "The Strain" has picked up. The first three episodes (screened for critics) contain more action, and the narrative moves more quickly. It's part of a plan that included producing 10 episodes for Season 3, three fewer than either of the first two seasons.

The shorter order was "at our request," according to Cuse, to create "a greater degree of kineticism. The story's really moving forward, and everybody's on sort of battle footing all year. And we just thought it was better for the show. We really wanted to make it a page turner."

But one that's different from the books. Even if you've read the trilogy — "The Strain," "The Fall" and "The Night Eternal" — you don't know what's going to happen in the TV series. Season 2 ended with the death of Nora (Mia Maestro), who survived in the books.

"We talk about TV shows being organic and sort of taking on their own momentum, and that sort of became the case," Hogan said. "We don't feel beholden to the books at all. We never have."

Nora's death reverberates through Season 3. "We felt it would energize the show in certain ways," Hogan said.

It definitely energized the cast. When they get scripts, "It's literally like Christmas or doomsday," said Kevin Durand, who stars as exterminator-turned-vampire hunter Vasiliy Fet. Particularly after Nora's death.

"It kind of put everybody on their toes," Durand said. "And it's kind of like, wow, we have no idea whether the next episode is our last or not. It certainly makes it even more visceral, especially if you love your job."

Durand plays a major role, at least through the first three episodes. And some very big things happen — including a possible game-changer in Episode 3. (No spoilers here.)

"The show's meant to be sort of this fun, pulpy, horror thriller — an enjoyable ride," Cuse said.

Mission accomplished.

Scott D. Pierce covers TV for The Salt Lake Tribune. Email him at spierce@sltrib.com; follow him on Twitter @ScottDPierce.