There has to be something that happened with the production of this movie - like a performer died or was unavailable for reshoots. Because what we see is so ill explained and arbitrary, even though the acting and concept and art design are actually quite good. The first act does not even remotely connect to the 2nd and 3rd.
It also fits into this new phenomenon of streaming movies where no indication is given of the order of when and where things are taking place. We're just supposed to either know or figure it out.