The Favourite is an odd little film about mischief and machinations in the court of Queen Anne.

Performances by the female-led cast -- foremost among them Rachel Weisz as Lady Sarah Churchill, the queen's friend and confidante; Emma Stone as Abigail Hill, Sarah's down-on-her-luck cousin who comes to court to find a position and insinuates herself between Sarah and the queen; and Olivia Colman as the depressed and ailing queen in early 18th-century England -- are solid, intense and practically flawless, and the narrative as two women compete for their queen's affections is cunningly crafted. Weisz is regal and cold, contrasting with Stone's initial vulnerability and self-deprecating wit ... which evolves through the course of the film into something equally icy. Much credit goes to Colman, however, who thoroughly submerges herself in Queen Anne's despair, petulance and flagging pride. She plays a character it would be easy to dislike, but rather than making her the villain, Colman makes her relatable, and often pitiable.

The story -- based only loosely on actual history -- is enthralling, at turns funny and sad, and viewers will be hard pressed to figure out what will happen next, or even where one's sympathies should lie. Small details -- such as the liberal use of natural sunlight and candlelight in many scenes, a gorgeous set and costumes that look only slightly anachronistic -- make it hard to look away.

But it's an unsettling film, and not just because of the emotional turmoil we watch on screen. The script, which promises a comedy in fancy dress in the early scenes, turns dark quickly, and the transition isn't entirely smooth. Character development is a bit inconsistent. The score -- penned, with the exception of era-appropriate music, by Johnnie Burn -- is at times jarring and unpleasant. Scene cuts are oddly paced and sometimes leave the viewer on edge.

There's a lot to admire in this movie, and director Yorgos Lanthimos deserves a lot of credit for his experimental approach to what might have become just another costume drama. But the movie left me with too many questions and a dissatisfied feeling that he was forced to wrap production on the film before it was fully baked.

Don't let that stop you from seeing it, though. It's certainly an experience worth having.