Patrick Muldoon's Final Film Is Dedicated to Late Actor, Testing Through the Roof

Patrick Muldoon's sudden death this week rocked fans and Hollywood ... but TMZ has learned one of his last completed projects might help some heal.

As we reported ... the film and TV star best known for his roles in "Days of Our Lives," "Melrose Place," and "Starship Troopers" died after suffering a heart attack on Sunday.

Kevin Interdonato, the writer-director of “Dirty Hands,” tells TMZ … the premiere for the crime thriller in which Patrick is the star, is tonight in New Jersey … and what was going to be a celebration of the film is now a celebration of Patrick.

The Saban Films project drops on Apple and Amazon this Friday ... and Kevin tells us it's been screened a couple of times for test audiences -- and Patrick’s performance has been singled out as fantastic. The writer-director says it's no joke ... Patrick is freaking amazing in the flick.

Cast and crew are obviously in shock and heartbroken ... especially since, as Kevin noted, the actor won’t get to enjoy the accolades from the film.

Producers wanted to add an official dedication card to the film … but we're told there is not enough time with it dropping Friday ... and pulling the release would have resulted in a few months' delay.

Patrick was also an executive producer on a movie currently in production, "Kockroach," starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, and Zazie Beetz.

Patrick was 57.