“Seven Pounds” is as jolly and Christmassy as a wreath of poison ivy with a viper hidden in among the leaves. It starts out sad with a cold foreboding and plunges down an emotional hole from there. Soap operas are musical comedies compared to this movie. “Seven Pounds” is like a car accident — you can’t help but stare. In fact, there is a car accident in the film. And it is a doozy, but I think I won’t go into that here.

Part of the compelling need to watch, of course, is the quality of the acting. Will Smith is always good, but in “Seven Pounds” he does a superlative job playing a tortured, tormented, and tattered soul. In most scenes his face is shattered. But why? Is it because he is an IRS agent? Or is it because before he was a big shot aviation engineer before he was an IRS agent? Or do we have it all wrong? Am I lying? Yes, I am lying … I have to … to keep you confused.

The audience is supposed to be confused. Pretty soon into the film we get a sickening feeling we know what is going on but we don’t want to accept it. Yet it comes … and when the end does come … we are forced to accept what we already knew was going to happen but tried not to admit what was coming was inevitable.

Indeed, dread is a major character in this movie … perhaps a starring role. There is not a giggle or chuckle to be found. This is a tragedy that would have given Shakespeare pause. The Victorians would have loved it. Dickens would have swooned if he could have used the plot line … but he couldn’t. I won’t tell you why.

Ben Thomas (Smith) is one miserable guy. Why he is sad, we don’t know until much later. He lives well … too well for an IRS agent. There is a mystery here and it is a big one. Ben can be cruel. In one scene, he calls a telemarketer (Woody Harrelson) who works for a meat company. Thomas is complaining about his order. He starts taunting and insulting Harrelson’s character — Ezra — trying to humiliate him. Ezra never retaliates. He is hurt, but he remains true to his innate goodness. When Ben slams the phone down, he (Ben) is clearly appalled at his own behavior. Then he shouts out the names of people. What is that about? Hmmm. Curious.

Ben has a brother who cares about him very much, he is worried about Ben, but Ben seems unwilling to talk about whatever is bothering him. More mystery. More confusion. Ben lives in a beach house that would cost millions. A flashback shows him driving a car that would make any person with a minimum of testosterone weak in the knees. What is going on?

Ben is interested in the lives of strangers, including a woman (Rosario Dawson) with a heart condition. He falls for her, but the relationship is ill fated. And yet this story is all about selfless love and, at the same time, guilt. He also is watching a hockey coach and a boy with cancer. All of this is really disconcerting.

Ben has a buddy (Barry Pepper) who has made a promise. A promise he does not want to keep. This character is very intriguing. He (Pepper) has an odd role …a tough one … but in a way, his is the most tragic. His rough, tough guy face, goes through a work out. Very interesting to watch.

So what is the deal? What is the mystery? I can’t tell any more. I will say this: I wish it were not Christmas time. And I will say this too: With less talented actors it would have been a terrible movie. However, with this cast, it is haunting. Very, very haunting … even disturbing … also very thought provoking. I can’t exactly say it is entertaining … but it will stick in your head long after you leave the theater.

What is seven pounds? Here is a hint: It isn’t British currency.

“Seven Pounds” earns three out of five crying towels…I mean bow ties.