How did Harold Lloyd’s comedy of thrills differ from other slapstick styles?

Harold Lloyd’s approach to comedy distinguished itself from the broader slapstick traditions of the silent era through his development of the "comedy of thrills." While many slapstick films of the time, such as those produced by Mack Sennett, relied on anarchic mayhem, the comic chase, and absurd, purely visual gags, Lloyd introduced genuine physical danger as a primary source of laughter.12

As an earnest, "boy-next-door" persona, Lloyd’s characters often found themselves in precarious, death-defying situations that required him to perform his own stunts. This is famously exemplified in Safety Last! (1923), where he hangs from the hands of a clock high above a city street. By grounding his humor in plot and situation rather than just chaotic violence, Lloyd became known as the screen’s most daring comedian, effectively turning the tension of physical peril into a unique comedic experience.213