Both the camera effects and the rather macabre sense of humor work pretty well in this short feature about the "Explosion of a Motor Car". Its original viewers were probably most interested in the special camera effects. These might not seem like anything special now, but in a few of these very old films they are really no less convincing than some of the computer-generated images that are so overused at the present time.
Beyond the camera tricks, there are some amusing moments from the policeman who comes to survey the scene. The morbid humor in his bureaucratic, officious response to the situation is amusing in itself, and it forms a contrast with the more dramatic parts of the action. Because of that, this little feature has a comic balance that you often don't see in movies of its kind that have been made more recently. It's also always interesting to see movies about automobiles that were made in the days when both cars and movies were still novelties.