Masked Space Figures with Corroding Bodies

by Ian Robinson

I am looking for a certain, very obscure Italian-made sci-fi/horror movie the title of which I don't recall, yet otherwise remember quite vividly.

I particularly recall this one scene, set in a space station, in which a group of people, having been abducted from a planets surface, encounter these strange masked figures. Then one of these mysterious unearthly hosts commences to speak, explaining that their bodies are "corroding" due to atmospheric conditions on their own world and that they must therefore switch bodies with earthlings and colonize the Earth. Then they remove their masks to reveal repulsive pulsating mugs of rotted flesh infested with live worms.

I also recall that among the main characters were this elderly scientist and his "son", an androgynous little boy with curly blond hair who was an android. I caught this movie on local syndicated television in 1986 in Southern California. I even remember the station that ran it, KHJ-9, which was THE TV station for weird old movie fans out on the west coast.

Perhaps there are some Californian couch potato/ bizarre movie freaks out there who've also seen this movie? If so, please share the title!